Eighteen former marines have come forward with explosive allegations, claiming they delivered luggage containing millions of pesos in cash to several House lawmakers, senators, and former Cabinet secretaries. The testimony was given during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing led by Senator Pia Cayetano, which is investigating anomalous flood control projects.
Affidavit Details Cash Deliveries
Lawyer Levi Baligod, legal counsel for the 18 ex-marines, submitted a consolidated affidavit to the panel. The former soldiers said they served as drivers and security personnel for fugitive former Ako-Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co. Their duties included delivering what they referred to as "trash" (basura), which they later realized was cash.
Listed Recipients
According to the affidavit, the following individuals allegedly received money from Co:
- Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III
- Former congressman now Senator Erwin Tulfo
- Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel
- Former Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman
- Former Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan
- Former ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro
- Mamamayang Liberal party-list Representative Leila de Lima
- Ilocos Representative Sandro Marcos
- Batangas Second District Representative Gerville Luistro
- Bicol Saro party-list Representative Terry Ridon
- Gabriela Representative Arlene Brosas
- Manila Representative Benny Abante
- Lanao del Sur Representative Zia Adiong
- Palawan Second District Representative Jose Alvarez
- Former Surigao del Norte Representative Ace Barbers
- Uswag Ilonggo Representative Jojo Ang
- Iloilo Representative Julienne Baronda
- Solid North Representative Ching Bernos
- Pampanga Third District Representative Dong Gonzales
- Zambales First District Representative Jay Khonghun
- La Union First District Representative Paolo Ortega
- Former Manila Representative Joseph Paduano
- Quezon City Second District Representative Jayjay Suarez
- Zamboanga Representative Mannix Delipe
- Manila Third District Representative Joel Chua
- Former Sta. Rosa Laguna Representative Dan Fernandez
- House Deputy Speaker Iloilo Representative Janet Garin
- Former Kabataan Representative Raoul Manuel
- Former Marikina Representative Stella Quimbo
- Fr. Flavie Villanueva
The ex-marines said deliveries were made to the recipients' homes, the House of Representatives, and a townhouse in Forbes Park.
Testimonies on Delivery Methods
Rosebert Waupan testified: "We always bring one bulletproof van to the House of Representatives. It’s full -- well, not exactly full. That’s where we place the paper bags." He added, "They would hold meetings in Boss Zaldy’s office, and afterward, we would see that the paper bags we had brought were already being carried away. They would be carrying them themselves, or if not, their executive assistants would be carrying them."
Belnard Tube claimed he personally accompanied Co in delivering five suitcases of cash to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Ilocos using an aircraft owned by Co in 2022. He said First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and their son Sandro were also present.
Bernard Gumban said he delivered cash to Senator Tulfo twice at his Greenhills residence, with two and six suitcases respectively, accompanied by Co's executive assistant Mark Ticsay.
Connection to ICC
Waupan also revealed that he provided security to International Criminal Court (ICC) members during their visits to the Philippines in 2023 and 2024, with Co covering all expenses. He identified Chantal Daniels as one of the ICC members they escorted. The ex-marines said they accompanied ICC members to a meeting with former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV at a Makati hotel and to a townhouse in Forbes Park with Romualdez, Co, and Trillanes.
Waupan provided photos of ICC members during their stay. He described activities at the Midas Hotel, where witnesses were interviewed, including former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog, who was dismissed and tagged as a narco-politician under former President Duterte.
Money Exchange and Deliveries
Tube recounted accompanying Co to a money exchange office in Makati, where they bought US dollars worth P50 million to P60 million. He said they placed the dollars in one suitcase and handed it to Romualdez, who was meeting with Trillanes and ICC judges. Senator Rodante Marcoleta remarked, "Because if you convert it to dollars, it would be used by non-Filipinos, since we use our own currency."
Joely Cadiao said he personally delivered cash to Fr. Villanueva at a church in Mindanao Avenue, Quezon City, and to Ridon at President Tower. Benny Boluntate and Rodante Orbillo said they delivered five large suitcases containing P50 million to P70 million to Senator Sotto in a building in Baclaran in 2024, during the election period.
Background and Retraction Attempts
The 18 ex-marines first went public in February 2026 to corroborate statements by retired Sergeant Orly Guteza, who earlier testified about delivering cash to Romualdez. Guteza is currently missing amid reports of harassment. Boluntate said former PNP chief Nicolas Torre pressured them to retract Guteza's claims; five signed a prepared affidavit and received P50,000 each. Torre also asked them to surrender their phones, but they had backed up photos on iCloud.
The ex-marines said they came forward for the truth. Walter Manalansan stated: "We were compelled to reveal the truth about public funds... we discovered it was the people's money. This is a syndicate. We will not back down." Fidel Corpuz added: "We feel guilty... we used to be soldiers. We do not want our children to suffer. The Philippines has P18 trillion in debt -- what will happen to our future?"
