The Philippine Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, initially led by Senator Erwin Tulfo before his inhibition, is conducting a probe into an alleged flood control scheme. The investigation has faced challenges, including the snubbing of a meeting by 18 alleged 'bodyguards' linked to the issue.

Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon has publicly challenged former Marines to attend a blue ribbon panel hearing scheduled for June 8, 2026, in the Philippines.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in the Philippines has identified six additional alleged former Marines who were supposedly bribed to testify in ongoing flood control anomaly investigations.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and Robin Padilla escorted 'ex-Marines' to the Senate plenary hall, an event described as 'tulakan' tales, amidst an ongoing power struggle for Senate control between the Gatchalian and Cayetano blocs.

Malacañang has dared individuals claiming to be former Marines to provide evidence for their allegations of delivering suitcases of money to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s supposed residence in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

The Sandiganbayan has rejected Martin Romualdez's petition to lift his travel ban. Romualdez, along with former Marines, has also been invited to the next Senate hearing concerning flood management issues.

Atty. Levito Baligod, counsel for 18 alleged former Marines, returned to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to comply with a subpoena related to the De Lima and Villanueva cases.

Former senator Sonny Trillanes has filed cyber libel charges against 18 alleged 'ex-Marines' and SMNI hosts, refuting claims of International Criminal Court bribery.

MANILA, Philippines —  Atty. Levito Baligod said on Tuesday that he received information from an “active military officer” that the ongoing investigation into the joint affidavit of his clients—18 supposed former Marines—allegedly aims to portray him and the 18 individuals as “destabilizers” of the government. “Some bright people in Government want to canalize the ‘investigation’

MANILA, Philippines — At least one of the alleged deliveries of “maleta” appears to have already occurred even during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte, said Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday. Remulla, citing a reliable source, said one of the pictures included in the joint affidavit of the so-called “18 ex-Marines” was actually

MANILA, Philippines —The houses of three former colleagues of 18 alleged ex-Marines, who claimed to be “bagmen” of resigned Ako Bicol Rep.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año has filed a new set of complaints concerning the 'paper bag' allegations made against him by 18 former Marines.

MANILA, Philippines — Lawyer Charlie Pascual on Tuesday confirmed that 18 alleged former Marines visited his office to have affidavits notarized, in which they accused various government officials and personalities of receiving kickbacks from flood-control projects. This followed Pascual’s appearance before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday to comply with a subpoena issued

MANILA, Philippines — Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima on Monday denied allegations that she received millions of pesos in cash from former Ako Bicol Rep.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson yesterday defended his decision not to hold a Blue Ribbon inquiry into the claims of 18 alleged former soldiers that they delivered P805 billion in flood control kickbacks to certain politicians.

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has filed a perjury complaint against 18 'ex-marines' and cyber libel and incriminating an innocent person complaints against lawyer Levi Baligod and others, following allegations of ICC bribery.

MANILA, Philippines— Allowing the 18 former Marines to appear in the Senate probe into the flood control projects mess may just turn the proceeding into a circus, according to Senate President Pro Tempore  Panfilo Lacson, noting that their stories were “lacking in believability” at the onset. This is why Lacson, who heads of the Senate blue

A religious leader clarified his involvement as a witness in a notarized affidavit by 18 supposed former Philippine Marines, who claimed they delivered cash to several top government officials.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson has begun preparatory examinations into allegations that former military personnel delivered billions of pesos to government officials.

A group led by lawyer Levito Baligod and 18 individuals identified as 'ex-Marines' appeared at the Senate, stating their intention to visit Senator Robin Padilla rather than attend a panel hearing. The group ultimately snubbed the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

Vice President Sara Duterte visited Baybay City in Leyte, a turf linked to the lawyer of 'ex-marines,' sparking questions about potential political implications.

Malacañang dismissed allegations by former Marines linking President Marcos to flood aid irregularities, while the Armed Forces of the Philippines clarified that the individuals were no longer in service at the time of the alleged acts.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is probing allegations that 'additional ex-Marines' are being bribed to testify. This investigation follows claims that a politician offered P5 million to 18 former Marines for their testimony.

A Senate probe into flood control projects has commenced under the leadership of Senator Pia Cayetano, who subsequently withdrew invitations to 18 'ex-Marines' to participate in the inquiry. Senator Erwin Tulfo also provided a briefing on the Senate shakeup and confirmed the probe's new date.

The Philippine Senate Blue Ribbon committee will proceed with its June 4 hearing on the multibillion-peso flood control scandal after restoring invitations to 18 former military personnel who claimed to have delivered billions in alleged kickbacks.

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has filed new cyberlibel complaints against 18 alleged former Marines, stemming from claims tied to the International Criminal Court's probe into former President Duterte and accusations of receiving $2 million.

The Senate Blue Ribbon committee is still open to holding a hearing on the alleged money delivery scheme – as claimed by 16 “ex-Marines” and two other alleged soldiers – as long as they tell the truth and not turn it into a circus, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson has said.

MANILA, Philippines — The evangelical leader who was named as a witness in the joint affidavit of the 18 alleged former Marines, who claimed to be “bagmen” of former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep.

The Office of the Ombudsman in the Philippines is also seeking to interview 18 alleged former Marines, a move a lawyer has criticized as a 'duplication' given that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is already conducting its own probe into the matter.

Critics of the former administration have characterized the recent allegations involving 18 former Marines as a calculated distraction, with former senators Leila de Lima and Antonio Trillanes IV pointing to the camp of former president Rodrigo Duterte as the architect of the controversy.

MANILA, Philippines — Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. has filed criminal complaints against the 18 former Marines and Atty.

Bureau of Corrections Director Gregorio Catapang Jr. has filed cyberlibel and perjury complaints against the 18 "ex-Marines" and their lawyer Levi Baligod.

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has subpoenaed the 18 alleged former Marines who accused several former and current government officials of receiving either a…

Trillanes denied receiving a supposed $2 million bribe for ICC investigators, and filed criminal complaints against the 'ex-Marines' and other personalities

The ICC can cooperate with private people, and even government officials, says the deputy prosecutor

The lawyer representing 18 alleged ex-Marines involved in a 'bagmen' scheme admitted to an 'oversight' in including former Senator Leila de Lima among the supposed recipients of kickbacks from flood control projects.

Levi Baligod, the lawyer representing the former soldiers, arrived at the Ombudsman on Thursday, February 28, for the affidavit to be referred for investigation.

An article discusses why it is inaccurate to refer to Zaldy Co’s former security aides as ‘ex-Marines,’ noting that only a few of the 18 individuals can be accurately described as such.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines deemed it misleading to refer to 18 individuals, who claimed to be "bagmen" for a former lawmaker in a cash-for-votes scheme, as "ex-Marines."

Senators Tito Sotto and Raffy Tulfo are preparing to file libel charges against Baligod and former Marines. The legal action stems from claims made against them regarding alleged kickbacks.

A priest and several former lawmakers have publicly denied allegations of receiving money related to a flood control scam.

Former Senator Franklin Drilon, Senator Raffy Tulfo, and former Education Secretary Leonor Briones have denied accusations of receiving kickbacks from 'ex-Marines,' who repeated their claims and named Sotto and Tulfo.

A contested Senate hearing led by the Cayetano bloc in the Philippines is alleged to have provided a platform for 'ex-Marines' to attack political rivals, including Senator Tito Sotto.

Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua has filed libel and cyberlibel complaints against 18 alleged former Marines and their counsel, who claimed to be bagmen for a resigned party-list representative.

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has filed another cyberlibel complaint with the Department of Justice against 18 alleged former Marines, accusing them of spreading false information about him.

Only six of the 18 alleged former Marines signed their written statements during interviews with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), as their counsel requested a review of the documents first. This development is part of the ongoing investigation into allegations that former Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman personally received cash from the alleged ex-Marines.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson stated that the Senate blue ribbon committee is not closing its doors on 18 alleged former Marines, provided they correct their affidavits regarding kickbacks to certain personalities.

Both the Office of the Ombudsman and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have instructed the group of 18 alleged 'ex-Marines' to submit more accurate complaints for their ongoing investigations.

MANILA, Philippines — Eight of the 18 alleged former Marines who recently claimed to be “bagmen” of resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co were found to be “not assigned” to the former congressman, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag said. In an interview at the NBI headquarters in Pasay City on Wednesday, Matibag

New complaints of perjury and cyberlibel have been lodged against lawyer Levi Baligod and 18 individuals, mostly former Marines, who previously claimed to have delivered large sums of cash to prominent politicians.

Also: VP Sara Duterte, Antonio Trillanes, and Mojtaba Khamenei, who's primed to become Iran's next Supreme Leader

MANILA, Philippines – Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Thursday said that the 18 individuals representing themselves as former Marines were acting for “political effect,” noting that while several signatories are no longer in active service, six were charged with murder. “Not all of them are in active service, and many of them were discharged. Alam

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año has filed legal action against 18 individuals, including supposedly former Marines, a lawyer, and a former congressman, for allegedly spreading 'malicious and fabricated' claims about his involvement in a cash delivery.

MANILA, Philippines — The Christian sect Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) has questioned the lack of solutions being undertaken by the government and the supposed inactions of the government on the…

Philippines: 18 ex-Marines rock Manila politics with explosive allegations as Marcos Jr, cousin Romualdez tagged in $13.9-billion flood control mega-kickbacks  Gulf News