MANILA — Four of 18 men presented as former members of the Philippine Marine Corps and linked to a former lawmaker did not serve in the military, while several others were dishonorably discharged, the Philippine Navy said.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Navy spokesperson Capt. Marissa Arlene Martinez said that “based on official records, four were never members of the Philippine Navy or the Philippine Marine Corps,” following a verification of the identities and service records of individuals introduced during a press conference by lawyer Levito “Levi” Baligod.

Baligod, a former senatorial candidate, had claimed that the 18 men acted as “bagmen” who delivered 805 billion pesos to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co.

According to Martinez, the majority of the individuals identified were dishonorably discharged from service, while others retired in good standing.

“With regard to Mr. Guteza, we reiterate that he has been retired from the service since June 2020 and is no longer under the administrative authority of the Philippine Navy,” she said.

The 18 men were described as former comrades of surprise witness Master Sgt. Orly Regala Guteza.

The Navy urged the public to verify the credibility of information circulating online and elsewhere.

“We remind the public to be discerning and to verify the accuracy and credibility of information, including the source and platform used, in order to help prevent and counter misinformation, disinformation and malinformation which have become increasingly prevalent,” Martinez said.

She added that the Navy “respects and adheres to constitutional processes, including judicial and legislative inquiries” and said it “does not and will never prevent any individual from testifying the truth, as doing so would go against our core values and principles.”

Separately, the Public Affairs Office of the Armed Forces of the Philippines also addressed the allegations.

In an earlier statement, AFP Public Affairs chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the claims raised by Baligod in a public forum “at present, remain allegations that must undergo proper legal and investigative processes before competent authorities.”

“We caution against grandstanding and the manipulative use of legitimate media to spread unverified claims that may contribute to disinformation,” Trinidad said. “The Filipino people deserve facts, and we urge all parties to allow lawful processes to take their course.”

📷 Mike Defensor