Palace calls kickback accusers as ‘18 garbage collectors’
MANILA, Philippines — Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Monday appealed to the public to call the 18 men claiming to have delivered suitcases of cash to certain politicians, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the “18 basurero (garbage collectors).”
The Palace official said this was because the 18 men allegedly described the cash they delivered as “basura” or trash.
READ: AFP: Misleading to still call alleged bagmen ‘ex-Marines’
At a briefing, she was asked to react to Sen. Raffy Tulfo’s new label for the alleged former Marines: “18 kargador (loaders).”
“Actually, ’18 suitcase boys, 18 garbage collectors’—they can be described that way from our perspective. Why garbage collectors? Aren’t they the ones said to be collecting and carrying trash?” she said in Filipino.
She also said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) had appealed to stop referring to the individuals as “ex-Marines.”
“The AFP simply requested that they no longer be referred to as ex-Marines because they were already out of the service when they became [former Congressman] Zaldy Co’s bodyguards. The AFP’s request is that they instead be called “18 witnesses” or “18 bodyguards.”
Marcos eyeroll
Castro also said Marcos was already aware of the claims made by the “18 garbage collectors” that they had delivered suitcases of money to his supposed residence in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.
“Did you see how he reacted to ‘no-el’ (no elections allegation)? That’s also the kind of reaction you’ll get from the president, because he knows—and we all know—that it’s not true,” she said in Filipino.
READ: Palace dares ex-Marines: Prove Paoay cash drop claims
She was referring to a brief media interview on May 26, during which Marcos responded only with an eye roll when asked about Sen. Imee Marcos’ claim that he was plotting a “no-election” scenario in 2028.
“Notice how the hearing is being conducted—it appears that someone is even coaching the witnesses. In court, that is not allowed; it is called ‘coaching the witness.’ All of that is untrue, and many of those named have said they were not involved. No evidence has been presented,” Castro said in Filipino. /mcm
