The Office of the Ombudsman received on Thursday, Feb. 26, notarized affidavits of 18 former Marines who claim they delivered ₱805 billion in flood control “kickbacks” to senior government officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Lawyer Levi Baligod, counsel for the former marines, said his clients turned over the documents to the Ombudsman, the only body authorized to investigate public officials accused of irregularities.
“Ni-refer namin sa Office of the Ombudsman para magkaroon lamang ng prima facie proof na meron offense na na-commit,” Baligod explained, noting the affidavits aim to establish initial evidence of wrongdoing.
Copies of the affidavits were not immediately available.
Baligod said his clients hope that the government officials they named will be charged with violations of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and RA No. 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
Should the Ombudsman investigate further, Baligod said those named in the affidavits could also be charged with malversation of public funds and bribery.
“Basehan namin ay tumanggap sila ng milyon milyon na pera pero hindi napakita ‘yan sa kanilang SALN (statement of assets liability and net worth), said Baligod.
The 18 former marines claimed that they delivered money inside suitcases from 2022 until 2025, and they made around four deliveries per week to different government officials on orders of former Ako Bikol Partylist congressman Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co.
Aside from Marcos and Romualdez, also named by the former Marines were Senator Erwin Tulfo, former Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV, former DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, Rep. Leila de Lima, Rep. Sandro Marcos and several other lawmakers.
At the same time, Baligod said that while the country is reeling over the corruption behind the flood control scam projects implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), there are huge amounts of money that came from the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor). He did not elaborate on his allegation. (Czarina Ong Ki)
