Palace dares ex-Marines: Prove Paoay cash drop claims

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday dared individuals claiming to be former Marines to prove their allegation that they delivered suitcases of money to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s supposed residence in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

During a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing led by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, former military officer Belnard Tube said he made the delivery in 2022 with former lawmaker Zaldy Co, during which he allegedly saw Marcos, his son Rep. Sandro Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and the President’s cousin and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

READ: ‘Ex-marines’ repeat kickback claims; Sotto, Tulfo named

“Let them show the evidence first. It’s easy to point fingers. Especially if your real intention is just to destroy things and act as an obstructionist or destabilizer,” said Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, refuting the allegations.

“So, they should prove it, give us documents and not just words,” she continued, speaking Filipino.

During the hearing, 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.

READ: Palace: Marines’ alleged cash delivery to Marcos a ‘lousy script’

While working for Co., the individuals claimed to have witnessed several current and former public officials receiving money from him, including 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.

This was not the first time Malacañang had belied the claims of the alleged ex-Marines.

In February, when the supposed 18 former Marines first claimed they had “delivered” billions of pesos in cash to the residences of Marcos and Romualdez, Castro dismissed the accusations as a “lousy script” that was “not award-worthy.” /jpv