Matibag: Only 6 of 18 ‘ex-Marines’ signed statements at NBI

MANILA, Philippines — Only six of the 18 alleged former Marines signed their written statements during the one-on-one interview with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) because their counsel wanted to review these first, according to Director Melvin Matibag.

In a Viber message to the Inquirer on Wednesday, Matibag said that when the alleged former Marines were about to sign their written statements after a more-than-eight-hour interview on Tuesday, their counsel, Atty. Levito Baligod suddenly requested a copy for his review.

“Atty. Baligod wants to review the statements, but they are all recorded. And the DOJ (Department of Justice) has Department Circular No. 48 that we should not release copies of the statements until the investigation is over,” Matibag told the Inquirer.

“The entire proceedings were recorded,” he pointed out.

Matibag also said that Baligod even wanted to take back and tear up the copies of the six alleged former Marines’ statements that have already been signed.

The NBI director pointed out that the 18 individuals voluntarily gave their statements and were even asked to read them before signing.

READ: NBI’s probe on ‘18 ex-Marines’ continues; to submit report to Ombudsman

The Inquirer reached out to Baligod about the matter, but has yet to respond to the query.

On Tuesday, all 18 alleged Marines, along with Baligod, appeared before the NBI and underwent one-on-one questioning regarding their joint affidavit tagging various government officials and personalities as alleged recipients of flood control kickbacks.

Before they left the bureau’s building at around 6:30 p.m., Baligod said in a chance interview with the media that there were still other alleged ex-Marines who did not sign their written statements, since “investigators still have questions to ask.”

Baligod also said the 18 alleged former Marines will return to the NBI and just wait for the bureau’s new subpoena.

“Actually, the process is not over yet. Some have signed but there are still supplementary questions, so it seems the investigators are not satisfied yet. That’s why we will come back,” said Baligod.

The NBI is currently investigating the joint affidavit of the 18 alleged former Marines, who claimed to have served as “bagmen” for former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co and delivered P805 billion in alleged kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects. /mr