An investigation into a multibillion-peso cash delivery scheme is expanding, with 18 former Marines testifying and 14 additional witnesses prepared to implicate a wider network.

Malacañang dismissed allegations by former Marines linking President Marcos to flood aid irregularities, while the Armed Forces of the Philippines clarified that the individuals were no longer in service at the time of the alleged acts.

The camp of drug war critic Fr. Flaviano Villanueva has denied accusations from alleged former Marines that he received money from former party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co, stating that legal action will be pursued.

Malacañang has dared individuals claiming to be former Marines to provide evidence for their allegations of delivering suitcases of money to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s supposed residence in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua has filed libel and cyberlibel complaints against 18 alleged former Marines and their counsel, who claimed to be bagmen for a resigned party-list representative.

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has filed another cyberlibel complaint with the Department of Justice against 18 alleged former Marines, accusing them of spreading false information about him.

MANILA, Philippines —  Atty. Levito Baligod said on Tuesday that he received information from an “active military officer” that the ongoing investigation into the joint affidavit of his clients—18 supposed former Marines—allegedly aims to portray him and the 18 individuals as “destabilizers” of the government. “Some bright people in Government want to canalize the ‘investigation’

The Office of the Ombudsman in the Philippines is also seeking to interview 18 alleged former Marines, a move a lawyer has criticized as a 'duplication' given that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is already conducting its own probe into the matter.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año has filed a new set of complaints concerning the 'paper bag' allegations made against him by 18 former Marines.

MANILA, Philippines — Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. has filed criminal complaints against the 18 former Marines and Atty.

MANILA, Philippines – Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Thursday said that the 18 individuals representing themselves as former Marines were acting for “political effect,” noting that while several signatories are no longer in active service, six were charged with murder. “Not all of them are in active service, and many of them were discharged. Alam

Vice President Sara Duterte yesterday questioned the “deafening silence” of civil society groups, the Church and lawmakers to allegations raised by 18 men who claimed to be former Marines, that they delivered suitcases containing billions of pesos to certain politicians.

MANILA, Philippines— Allowing the 18 former Marines to appear in the Senate probe into the flood control projects mess may just turn the proceeding into a circus, according to Senate President Pro Tempore  Panfilo Lacson, noting that their stories were “lacking in believability” at the onset. This is why Lacson, who heads of the Senate blue

Former Rep. Mike Defensor’s warning that another group of former Marines would soon come forward with supposed firsthand accounts of an alleged bribery scheme in the administration of President Marcos is turning him into another Ador Mawanay, according to Palace press officer Claire Castro. Mawanay—whose real name is Antonio Luis Marquez—falsely accused Sen. Panfilo Lacson

The lawyer behind an affidavit signed by 18 supposed former Marines and Philippine Army officials admitted he made a mistake in naming Rep. Leila De Lima (ML Party-lists) as one of the alleged recipients of cash-filled suitcases.

The Philippine Palace has dismissed allegations that former Marines delivered billions of pesos in cash to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s residences, calling the claims a 'lousy script' and 'not award-worthy'.

Senator Raffy Tulfo urged the public to stop referring to 18 alleged bagmen as former Marines, stating they were more like 'kargadors' or pier porters.

Senators Tito Sotto and Raffy Tulfo are preparing to file libel charges against Baligod and former Marines. The legal action stems from claims made against them regarding alleged kickbacks.

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday dismissed as “false and baseless” allegations made by a group of former Marines linking President Marcos to alleged cash deliveries connected to the flood…

The Sandiganbayan has rejected Martin Romualdez's petition to lift his travel ban. Romualdez, along with former Marines, has also been invited to the next Senate hearing concerning flood management issues.

Atty. Levito Baligod, counsel for 18 alleged former Marines, returned to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to comply with a subpoena related to the De Lima and Villanueva cases.

Only six of the 18 alleged former Marines, who claimed to have delivered suitcases filled with cash totaling billions of pesos to several government officials and personalities, including President Marcos, have signed their sworn statements before the National Bureau of Investigation, according to Director Melvin Matibag. In a message to the Inquirer on Wednesday, Matibag

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson stated that the Senate blue ribbon committee is not closing its doors on 18 alleged former Marines, provided they correct their affidavits regarding kickbacks to certain personalities.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has identified a retired general who allegedly recruited 103 people, including 18 alleged former Marines, to serve as security aides for former congressman Zaldy Co, adding a new twist to a corruption story.

Critics of the former administration have characterized the recent allegations involving 18 former Marines as a calculated distraction, with former senators Leila de Lima and Antonio Trillanes IV pointing to the camp of former president Rodrigo Duterte as the architect of the controversy.

New complaints of perjury and cyberlibel have been lodged against lawyer Levi Baligod and 18 individuals, mostly former Marines, who previously claimed to have delivered large sums of cash to prominent politicians.

Vice President Sara Duterte yesterday questioned the “deafening silence” of civil society groups, the Church and lawmakers to allegations raised by 18 men who claimed to be former Marines, that they delivered suitcases containing billions of pesos to certain politicians.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año has filed legal action against 18 individuals, including supposedly former Marines, a lawyer, and a former congressman, for allegedly spreading 'malicious and fabricated' claims about his involvement in a cash delivery.

The National Bureau of Investigation is probing the identities and backgrounds of former Marines who claimed to have served as bagmen and security aides for former lawmaker Zaldy Co.

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday hailed the 18 former Marines who acted as alleged bagmen of resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co, and said that this only “proved” initial information that the government had been coordinating with the International Criminal Court (ICC). The vice president also said that the revelations by

MANILA, Philippines — The Palace spokesperson dismissed as a “lousy script” the accusation that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was the “mastermind” and biggest beneficiary of a corruption scheme supposedly employing former Marines to deliver travel bags filled with cash to politicians’ homes. Three former lawmakers called the allegation a mere diversionary tactic from this week’s

The Philippine Navy stated that four of 18 individuals presented as former Marines were never part of the service, and most others were dishonorably discharged.

Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon has publicly challenged former Marines to attend a blue ribbon panel hearing scheduled for June 8, 2026, in the Philippines.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in the Philippines has identified six additional alleged former Marines who were supposedly bribed to testify in ongoing flood control anomaly investigations.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is probing allegations that 'additional ex-Marines' are being bribed to testify. This investigation follows claims that a politician offered P5 million to 18 former Marines for their testimony.

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has filed new cyberlibel complaints against 18 alleged former Marines, stemming from claims tied to the International Criminal Court's probe into former President Duterte and accusations of receiving $2 million.

Only six of the 18 alleged former Marines signed their written statements during interviews with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), as their counsel requested a review of the documents first. This development is part of the ongoing investigation into allegations that former Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman personally received cash from the alleged ex-Marines.

MANILA, Philippines — The evangelical leader who was named as a witness in the joint affidavit of the 18 alleged former Marines, who claimed to be “bagmen” of former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep.

MANILA, Philippines — Eight of the 18 alleged former Marines who recently claimed to be “bagmen” of resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co were found to be “not assigned” to the former congressman, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag said. In an interview at the NBI headquarters in Pasay City on Wednesday, Matibag

MANILA, Philippines — Lawyer Charlie Pascual on Tuesday confirmed that 18 alleged former Marines visited his office to have affidavits notarized, in which they accused various government officials and personalities of receiving kickbacks from flood-control projects. This followed Pascual’s appearance before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday to comply with a subpoena issued

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has subpoenaed the 18 alleged former Marines who accused several former and current government officials of receiving either a…

Perjury complaints have been filed by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV against 18 men who claimed to be former Marines, over their allegations that they delivered suitcases and paper bags containing cash to him and several others.

MANILA, Philippines — Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila De Lima on Monday acted out in humor the kickback allegations by “bagmen” with her clutching a “maleta” (suitcase) and a paper bag in a video clip that has since gone viral.  De Lima was accused by the supposed 18 former Marines-turned-“bagmen” of receiving wads of cash

An evangelical leader named as a witness in the joint affidavit of 18 alleged former Marines-turned-'bagmen' for former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co has clarified his role, stating it does not imply endorsement.

MANILA, Philippines — Palace press officer Claire Castro has likened Mike Defensor to infamous Senate witness Ador Mawanay, who testified against Sen. Panfilo Lacson over two decades ago but later retracted his statements. At Thursday’s briefing, Castro was asked to comment on Defensor’s warning that another group of former marines would soon come forward with their supposed firsthand

Malacañang yesterday dismissed as a “lousy script” the story of 18 men who introduced themselves as former Marines, who claimed they delivered suitcases containing billions of pesos to the houses of President Marcos and his cousin, former speaker Martin Romualdez.