‘Ex-marines’ repeat kickback claims; Sotto, Tulfo named
MANILA, Philippines — The 18 alleged former Marines reiterated their accusations that lawmakers, including Senators Tito Sotto III and Erwin Tulfo, received money from the office of former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co.
Joined by their legal counsel, Atty. Levi Baligod, the supposed former Marines, who claimed they were hired as Co’s “bagmen,” repeated the contents of their affidavits before the Senate blue ribbon committee led by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta.
Sotto and Tulfo were accused of receiving luggage containing money.
Former military officer Belnard Tube alleged that he and his cohorts delivered two pieces of luggage, each containing P40 million to P70 million, to a building owned by Sotto in Baclaran.
However, Tube did not testify that he saw Sotto.
READ: Matibag: NBI received info that Defensor bribed ‘18 ex-Marines’ P5M each
Another alleged former Marine, Bernard Gumban, recounted delivering two pieces of luggage to what he claimed was Tulfo’s house in Greenhills.
“I was able to make two deliveries to Erwin Tulfo. The first time, it was two small suitcases; the second time, six,” Gumban said in Filipino.
He added that the small luggage could hold P20 million to P25 million, while the medium-sized luggage could hold up to P60 million.
Gumban said a certain “Marc Ticsay” told him that the house where they delivered the money belonged to Tulfo. However, he did not state whether he saw Tulfo.
Tube also alleged that he made a delivery in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, in 2022 with Co, during which he said he saw President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his son Rep. Sandro Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and the president’s cousin and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
According to the alleged former Marines, deliveries to Romualdez began in September 2022.
READ: Cyberlibel, perjury raps filed vs lawyer, 18 ex-Marines
While working for Co, they claimed to have seen several current and former public officials receiving money from him.
These included Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, former lawmakers Raoul Manuel, France Castro, and Arlene Brosas, and former senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
The alleged former Marines said Manuel and De Lima frequently visited Co’s offices and left carrying paper bags containing money.
Trillanes was also accused of receiving paper bags containing P5 million to P10 million in cash, as well as six pieces of luggage.
Meanwhile, Baligod claimed that Co maintained a group chat with his bagmen in which there were alleged confirmations of kickbacks received by Castro, Brosas, and Tinio.
Another alleged former Marine, Joely Cadiao, claimed that he delivered luggage to Ridon in Quezon City. He also recounted bringing money in an envelope to drug war critic Fr. Flavie Villanueva. /mcm
