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Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla takes his oath as the new Ombudsman, October 9, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

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OMBUDSMAN

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Thursday 18 supposed “ex-Marines” were making public statements to incite other soldiers to rebel against the government. </p><p>The individuals have tagged government officials and private individuals in a supposed bribery scheme involving money intended for personnel of the International Criminal Court who visited the Philippines.  </p><p>“They are trying to create a political tipping point, alam na natin iyon di ba, they want a branch of the service to rise up in arms, iyon lang naman iyon eh, they are creating a tipping point,” Remulla said.</p><p>Remulla refused to identify other individuals who could be behind the 18 but he said the move was political. </p><p>“Oo political kaya iyan, some of them have economic motives, mahirap lang magsalita ngayon,” Remulla said. </p><p>Remulla said that he was not personally involved in the investigation being conducted by officials of the Office of the Ombudsman on the validity of the claims of the 18 individuals.</p><p>“We’re validating first the identities, siyempre alam natin dapat kung sino-sino itong mga taong ito, kasi ano eh, the 18 marines, was supposed to be parang fo political effect, but not all of them are Marines, not all of them in the active service and many of them were dishonorably discharged… Many of them had murder cases, I think 6 of them,” Remulla said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/5/trillanes-files-criminal-raps-vs-18-ex-marines-badoy-others-over-icc-payola-claims-1148">Trillanes files criminal raps vs 18 &#x27;ex-Marines,&#x27; Badoy, others over ICC payola claims</a></div><p>Remulla however said his office told lawyer Levito Baligod to produce individual affidavits in lieu of the joint affidavit filed by the 18 before the Office of the Ombudsman.</p><p>“We sent Baligod a word to produce the affidavits, 18 individual affidavits iyan, it covers a span of more than 30 months, and ano iyan, more than 30 months, magkakasama sila the whole time? To get statements of that nature, that long? For 30 months magkakasama sila the whole time? It’s not very clear,” Remulla said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/5/sara-duterte-slams-deafening-silence-on-ex-marines-bribery-claims-1145">Sara Duterte slams ‘silence’ on ex-Marines’ bribery claims</a></div><p>Still, Remulla assured the public that the Office of the Ombudsman would be fair in its probe.</p><p>“Basta fair kami, we’re here to be fair, kaya nga kung hindi ako fair, aaminin ko ba iyong ICC, hindi, sinasabi ko totoo iyon, pero walang labing-walong tao doon sa labas ng bahay ko,” Remulla said. </p><p>Remulla earlier <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/2/ombudsman-remulla-confirms-meeting-with-icc-staff-1518">admitted meeting with ICC personnel</a> in his house, but only three and not all 18 of the ex-marines, were present. </p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/3/doj-no-legal-prohibition-on-ph-gov-t-coordination-with-icc-1616">DOJ: No legal prohibition on PH gov’t coordination with ICC</a></div><div><br/></div><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div><div><iframe width="725" height="408" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3TOXUCojOMc" title="Bakit hindi iimbestigahan ng Blue Ribbon ang sinabi ng 18 &#x27;ex-Marines,&#x27; ayon kay Ping | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><iframe width="725" height="408" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GfOH_Boxy6M" title="NSA Sec. Eduardo Año naghain ng reklamo vs 18 umano&#x27;y ex-marines, Baligod at Defensor | TV Patrol" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Thursday 18 supposed “ex-Marines” were making public statements to incite other soldiers to rebel against the government. </p>

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Thursday 18 supposed “ex-Marines” were making public statements to incite other soldiers to rebel against the government.

Remulla says 18 ‘ex-Marines’ out to incite other soldiers to ‘rise up in arms’

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Remulla says 18 ‘ex-Marines’ out to incite other soldiers to ‘rise up in arms’

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 05, 2026 02:13 PM PHT

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