ON Feb. 24, a group of 18 “ex-Marines,” accompanied by lawyer Levito Baligod, appeared at a press conference in historic Club Filipino. They came with a big story to tell amid public clamor for the indictment of the “big fish” involved in the corruption of public funds worth trillions of pesos. They satisfied the craving that neither the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee nor the Independent Commission for Infrastructure was able to do.
The “former Marines” alleged in an affidavit they executed that they were the “bagmen” of former Ako Bicol party-list representative Elizalde “Zaldy” Co. They claimed to have distributed suitcases containing some P805 billion in cash, corroborating the testimony of their retired colleague, Technical Sgt. Orly Guteza, at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing. They also averred that among the recipients were President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., former speaker Martin Romualdez, and other prominent personalities.
Public reaction was mixed. Some welcomed the revelation; others were skeptical. Some found their timing perfect; others were suspicious. First, the gathering happened while the confirmation-of-charges hearing for former president Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court was being held. Second, it occurred a day before the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution.
Government officials were first to label the act part of a destabilization attempt to unseat Marcos and undermine government institutions. Malacañang Press Officer Claire Castro called the imputations a “lousy script.”
Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who heads the said committee, voiced doubt about the information in the affidavit due to the “credibility of the source.” He cited a Philippine Navy statement saying that, of those “18 ex-Marines... four were never members of the [navy] or the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC),” and that that “majority” of them had been “discharged dishonorably.”
Steep PMC standards
Quite surprising to some was the attention given to the reference “18 ex-Marines.” It is as if the credibility of the accusations hinged on the identity of the whistleblowers as former members of the PMC.
But the more surprising comment that drew varied reactions online was a social media post couched as a reminder “to all Marines” from the PMC’s 37th commandant. Maj. Gen. Vicente Blanco made a direct reference only to the “three retired (‘honorably discharged’) Marines” at the press conference. He declared that a former member of the PMC who was “Discharged Without Honor could not claim the adage ‘Once a Marine, always a Marine’ to lend credence to his actions.”
I beg to disagree with the commandant.
Shooting the messenger?
While the Philippine Navy merely clarified that not all of the 18 were “ex-Marines,” and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reiterated the navy’s statement and left the assertions contained in their affidavit to the legal process, the PMC discredited and disowned its former members.
I am not inclined to say these 18 former members of the AFP — 14 of whom were former Marines — are incapable of lying, much as they are capable of telling the truth. But I am appalled by the basis with which others quickly dismissed their revelations. I am disappointed with how some of us judge their current actions by their past mistakes and errors in judgment, the consequences of which they have already suffered.
We wanted the truth, and investigating bodies want evidence, but why are we persecuting these men who offered us their testimonies? Why do not we allow the legal process to take its course, especially now that the affidavit has been signed, notarized and filed before the Ombudsman?
Filipinos highly regard the Marines, as they remain true to their motto of “Karangalan, Katungkulan, Kabayanihan” (Honor, Duty, Valor) and zealously guard the PMC’s unsullied reputation. Could it be the same motto that led these former Marines to act? Is it a display of moral courage — however unpopular or bearing political implications — if it would serve the greater good?
The issue is the massive corruption of funds derived from levies imposed on every natural and juridical person subject to tax. Therefore, when such funds generated from ordinary people’s sweat and blood were squandered, we rightfully demand accountability from public officials who were supposed to protect our interests. The crime committed was attended with the betrayal of public trust.
In the pursuit of truth, and in holding all corrupt public officers accountable for malversation of public funds, we should encourage all persons claiming privity to the commission of the crime to reveal what they know. And by all, I mean everyone. So why exclude former soldiers when they are Filipinos, after all?
But while I exhort the public to guard against trickery and to be very discerning, we should also not suppress any testimony or close the door to whistleblowers. After all, there are always two sides of the same “truth.”
I rise to praise, rather than criticize, those who stood by their principles and went against the proverbial grain. I salute the few who, at the expense of their own comfort and the safety of their families, mustered the courage to stand against the powerful who stole the future of our children. We should not tire in our quest for truth, and the prosecution and punishment of those responsible for the pillory of government coffers. Only then would public trust in government and its institutions be restored, our good standing in the eyes of the international community be regained, and national stability be assured.
Retired, honorably or dishonorably discharged, Marines or not — all of us are citizens of this country. We owe it to the next generation to hold public officers accountable and responsible for their intentionally unlawful acts, improper performance of a lawful act, and failure to act when a duty exists.
For evil to reign is for the good among us to be passive; able to speak, but opted to be silent; able to act, but did nothing.
atty.edarevalo@gmail.com