Jamaine Punzalan

Supposed former Marines, together with Mike Defensor, face members of the media during an interview session at Valle Verde Country Club on March 5, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

18 EX AMRINES BAGMEN- PAYOFFS

Allison Co

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177328180727220260305-18-ex-marines-defensor-baligod-MT13.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Supposed former Marines, together with Mike Defensor, face members of the media during an interview session at Valle Verde Country Club on March 5, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p><strong>(UPDATE) </strong>Sixteen of 18 individuals claiming to be former Marines who acted as bagmen responsible for delivering bribes to government officials went to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday to respond to the subpoena issued against them. </p><p>The subpoena was issued following an earlier press conference where lawyer Levi Baligod presented the 18 individuals, who allegedly delivered bribes to officials in relation to flood control projects. </p><p>“They don&#x27;t have anything to profit from accusing people in high position ng kasinungalingan,” Baligod said, insisting that the former alleged Marines did not receive anything from their affidavit. </p><p>“Isipin mo, ordinaryo lang itong mga sundalo na mamamayan and they are accusing people in the highest places of government. Mahirap yun, di ba?” he added.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=316&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1441207467686144%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="316" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>However, NBI Direction Melvin Matibag said the individuals who faced the NBI did not answer questions regarding their joint affidavit.</p><p>This contradicted an earlier statement from Baligod, who said the group was willing to fully cooperate with the NBI since they had nothing to hide.</p><p>“Ang sinasabi nila, yung subpoena raw parang sa background check. Pero pag tinignan nyo po natin yung subpoena, malinaw naman yung nakalagay doon na verification dahil doon sa joint affidavit na in-issue po nila,” Matibag said.</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F2089670305164719%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>During the investigation, Baligod&#x27;s camp disclosed that not all of the 18 individuals are former Marines, with two of them claiming to be members of the Philippine Army, Matibag said, pointing out inconsistencies.</p><p>“So mayroon na kaagad na diperensya doon, &#x27;di ba? Tapos doon pala sa sinabit nilang dokumento, yung Army, reservist yung isa, hindi naman talaga siya Army,” Matibag said.</p><p>The bureau said it is still determining whether the alleged ex-Marines may be considered potential witnesses in the case.</p><p>“Well, yung 18 are persons of interest. They can be a witness doon sa sinasabi nilang krimen. They can be a victim sa pangyayaring ito because of the anger. They can be a perpetrator. Wala pa nga po. Kasi nga nag-iimbestiga pa po kami,” Matibag explained.</p><p>Two of the 18 ex-marines were not able to attend due to family matters according to Baligod. All of them are set to return to the NBI on March 17 for the continuation of the investigation.</p><p>The NBI also directed former lawmaker Mike Defensor and his wife Julie Defensor to appear on Thursday. Defensor earlier said he only helped the 18 alleged ex-Marines with transportation and was not involved in drafting their affidavit.</p><p>Defensor’s lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said this was a form of harassment and intimidation.</p><p>“Nandito kami bilang paggalang sa National Bureau of Investigation as an institution. Pero para sa amin ay questionable yung ginagawa ng kasalukuyang liderato ng NBI na i-subpoena itong mga tao nito... These are whistleblowers. At para sa amin, nawe-weaponize at na-misuse o misemploy ang kapangyarihan ng NBI,” Topacio said.</p><p>Defensor argued that they should not have been the ones subpoenaed and the investigation should instead focus on those accused by the ex-Marines, including former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and President Bongbong Marcos Jr.</p><p>“Hindi dapat kami ang pinatawag, dapat ang imbestigahan yung mga binigyan ng pera,” he said.</p><p>Defensor added that he was willing to continue helping the 18 individuals amid the current investigation.</p><p>“But I will help them as much as I can because they are telling the truth. I will not allow what happened to Guteza,” he said.</p><p>Orly Guteza, a former staff member, earlier alleged that Romualdez and Rep. Zaldy Co received kickbacks from flood control projects, which he claimed were delivered in cash through suitcases.</p><p>However, a Manila court later ruled that the document’s notarization had been falsified and ordered an investigation into the allegations.</p><p>Malacañang earlier said it believed the alleged former Marines were backed by people who wanted Marcos out of office.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>OMBUDSMAN WANTS INDIVIDUAL AFFIDAVITS</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, The Office of the Ombudsman has asked the lawyer of the 18 individuals to submit separate affidavits from each individual for a “more accurate and credible narration of facts.”</p><p>“First, we have deputized the NBI to verify the identities and background of the affiants especially since there have been conflicting reports on who they are and where they used to serve,” Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said.</p><p>“It is only upon evaluation that it was found that there were 18 people that signed one affidavit. The contents may be true, but the credibility will be strengthened when each one narrates the facts from their own unique perspective,” Clavano said.</p><p>Clavano said the office sent a letter request to Baligod to produce 18 separate affidavits lining out the narration of facts from the perspective of each person.</p><p>“As the Ombudsman has mentioned, a joint narration of facts loses credibility,” he added.</p><p>Clavano also disputed Topacio’s statement that the move amounted to “harassment” and “intimidation.”</p><p>“How did the opportunity to rectify the affidavit’s form become harassment?” Clavano said in a text message.</p>

<p>Sixteen of 18 alleged former Marines who claimed to have delivered illicit cash to government officials appeared before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday.</p>

Sixteen of 18 alleged former Marines who claimed to have delivered illicit cash to government officials appeared before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday.

Defensor, 16 alleged ex-Marines respond to NBI subpoena

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

Defensor, 16 alleged ex-Marines respond to NBI subpoena

Allison Co,

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 12, 2026 10:18 AM PHT

|

Updated March 12, 2026 08:38 PM PHT

Read More:

Marines

ex Marines

Defensor

bribery

NBI

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.