Philippine Navy Says 4 of 18 Claiming to Be Zaldy Co’s Aides Are Not Marines
Four out of eighteen individuals who claimed to be former aides of ex-Congressman Zaldy Co and members of the Philippine Marines were confirmed by the Philippine Navy to have never been official members of the Marine Corps or any branch of the Navy.
According to Philippine Navy spokesperson Capt. Marissa Martinez, most of those in the group had been dishonorably discharged from military service, while only a few maintained good standing.
This clarification came after the group publicly appeared at a press conference to support the initial claims of former Marine personnel Orly Guteza, who alleged that money from his former boss was delivered to President Bongbong Marcos. The group, represented by Atty. Levi Baligod, also claimed they were tasked with exchanging USD 2 million to pay investigators of the International Criminal Court.
Capt. Martinez, however, cautioned the public to carefully consider the credibility of such information and its sources, emphasizing that not all claims should be taken at face value.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) previously reminded the public that all allegations must go through proper legal processes and thorough investigation before conclusions are drawn. AFP officials also warned that certain parties may attempt to spread false information to provoke anger and distrust toward the military, particularly around sensitive dates such as the EDSA People Power Revolution anniversary on February 25.
Meanwhile, Zaldy Co, former Ako Bicol representative, remains a fugitive facing corruption and malversation charges linked to controversial projects. Reports suggest he is abroad, possibly in Europe, while the government has frozen his assets worth billions and is seeking his return. Co has challenged some legal actions and released videos defending himself, but authorities continue to pursue him to face the charges and recover allegedly misused funds.