Tulfo rejects ‘18 Marines’ label, calls alleged bagmen ‘kargadors’

MANILA, Philippines — Senators from the new Majority bloc on Monday urged the public to stop referring to the 18 alleged bagmen as former Marines, arguing that they were more akin to “kargadors” or pier porters who were supposedly tasked only with loading suitcases into vans.

Speaking at the start of the Senate blue ribbon committee consultatitve meeting, Sen. Raffy Tulfo said the individuals appeared to have been labeled as members of the Philippine Marine Corps to project an image of honor and integrity.

READ: AFP: Misleading to still call alleged bagmen ‘ex-Marines’

“Let me call them 18 kargadors because, according to their own account, they were tasked with carrying suitcases allegedly filled with cash. That was their job — carrying and loading luggage,” Tulfo said.

He questioned the identities and backgrounds of the individuals, stressing that the committee could not simply accept serious allegations without first establishing their credibility.

“We cannot simply bring in people before the blue ribbon committee to make grave accusations without determining whether they are credible. From the very beginning, calling them the ‘18 Marines’ was already an attempt to divert attention. That label, 18 Marines, was just a way to sweeten their personalities before the public,” he said.

Tulfo even noted that both the Philippine Marine Corps and the Armed Forces of the Philippines had discouraged people from referring to them as “18 Marines,” since not all of them were Marines and many of them were dishonorably discharged.

“People automatically accord respect when they hear the word ‘Marine.’ But not all of them were Marines, and more than half were discharged without honors or dishonorably discharged for various offenses, including being AWOL,” he added.

READ: House leaders say Senate being used as political theater

Later in the hearing, Senator Risa Hontiveros, lamented the absence of the 18 individuals, referring to them as “ex-bodyguards.”

“The new Senate majority is not avoiding any investigation. But in any inquiry, evidence should prevail over mere stories. That is what we hoped to determine today. Unfortunately, the 18 ex-bodyguards did not appear,” Hontiveros said.

“This could have been an opportunity to establish the truth. But the resource persons are not here to substantiate their claims. That is unfortunate,” she added.

Last Thursday, despite the Majority bloc declaring all Senate positions vacant and electing a new set of officials, the group led by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano proceeded with a supposed blue ribbon committee hearing, highlighting testimonies of the 18 individuals.

The group claimed they had worked for former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, who previously chaired the House committee on appropriations.

They have reiterated allegations contained in an affidavit they executed on Feb. 25, 2026.

According to the 18 individuals, they were tasked by Co with delivering suitcases allegedly filled with cash to various recipients, including several House members.

However, observers quickly pointed to alleged inconsistencies between the group’s testimony during the hearing and statements contained in their February affidavit. Among the issues raised was the sudden inclusion of Palawan Rep. Jose Alvarez among the alleged recipients of the cash-filled suitcases.

Alvarez rushed to the Senate on Thursday to confront the 18 individuals, saying that he did not receive any suitcase with cash.  When asked what might have been the reason why he was suddenly included in the list of lawmakers who allegedly received money from Co, Alvarez said it might be because of his refusal to endorse an impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

According to the lawmaker, a certain Margarette texted him claiming to represent former lawmaker Mike Defensor, a supporter of the 18 individuals, who sent him a copy of the complaint against Marcos.

He said, he flatly denied the request.

READ: Alvarez on 18 Marines’ claims: Payback for not backing Marcos ouster?

Other lawmakers named by the 18 individuals have also denied the accusation.

Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V also questioned the motive behind the Cayetano-led BRC meeting, saying it appeared designed to discredit the House of Representatives ahead of Duterte’s impeachment trial.

Ortega noted that many of those named in the allegations are connected to the House prosecution panel, despite repeatedly denying that they received money from Co./dp