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EJ Macababbad - The Philippine Star
March 12, 2026 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The corruption story told by 18 alleged former Marines took another turn after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) found that a retired general recruited 103 people, including the 18, to be security aides for former congressman Zaldy Co.
In an interview yesterday, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said eight of the 18 self-confessed bagmen for Co never served as close-in bodyguards for the former lawmaker, and that four of them never actually became soldiers.
Matibag did not identify the general, but said he is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1975.
“Levi Baligod, the lawyer for the ex-Marines, admitted that 103 bodyguards were assigned to Zaldy Co, and that a retired general recruited them, which we have identified,” Matibag told reporters.
“Stories are coming out that they’re supposed to be employed for two years, but they were cut off because Zaldy Co is already gone. So these bodyguards, including the retired Marines, did not receive their salaries and lost their jobs,” he added.
With this angle, Matibag said the NBI is making sure that the former Marines are not bribed or threatened while executing their affidavits.
Prominent graduates of the “Makabayan” Class of 1975 include retired Lt. Gen. Cardozo Luna, who served as Armed Forces of the Philippines vice chief of staff during the Arroyo administration and a defense undersecretary during the Duterte presidency, and retired Lt. Gen. Pedrito Cadungog, who was commanding general of the Philippine Air Force from 2008 to 2009.
Matibag told “Storycon” on One News that the general served in the Philippine Army. He said the NBI is still in the process of “validating” the stories of the 18.
He is unsure if 10 of the 18 ex-Marines directly served under Co. What is certain, he said, is that four of them never became part of the Philippine Marine Corps.
Matibag has been examining “inconsistencies” in their allegations, including details about the type of bag containing alleged kickbacks for ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima and the number of suitcases they allegedly delivered to President Marcos’ house in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.
The NBI chief said the taxi firm mentioned by the 18 has declared that it has no record of the alleged trip to Paoay.
Religious leader subpoenaed
The NBI has summoned religious leader Efraim Tendero to appear before the bureau tomorrow at 10 a.m., as a “person of interest.”
Tendero, former secretary general of the World Evangelical Alliance, signed as a witness to the affidavit, but clarified that his role does not include verifying the truthfulness of the claims.
Matibag said this is the first time he heard of a witness attaching his signature in a sworn affidavit, which is typically done in agreements and sale deeds.
The lawyer who notarized the affidavit, Charlie Pascual, appeared before the NBI on Tuesday.
Matibag said Pascual and Baligod know each other.
The notary’s social media accounts are managed by Michelle Defensor, who turns out to be a sibling of former congressman Mike Defensor.
Matibag said the NBI is ready to provide protection to the 18 alleged ex-Marines.
“We are not investigating the 18. What we are investigating is the entirety of the story they released,” Matibag told Storycon.
Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año filed additional perjury and cyberlibel complaints against the former Marines yesterday.
Manhunt for Co
According to President Marcos, Philippine authorities are coordinating with counterparts in Portugal to locate Co, and have requested a red notice from the International Criminal Police Organization.
“We have to ask the assistance of Portugal. So that’s what we have done,” Marcos said.
ICI still in limbo
Marcos has no decision yet on the fate of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, the body he created to probe anomalous flood control projects.
“The ICI itself has made the determination that much of their work has already been done,” the President said.
Only four senators – Panfilo Lacson, Francis Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros and Bam Aquino have so far signed the partial Blue Ribbon committee report on the flood control mess. It needs five more to be endorsed to the plenary.
Meanwhile, the proposed Independent People’s Commission bill cannot be passed before Congress takes a break next week, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said, citing a backlog of pending interpellations for both the IPC measure and the anti-dynasty bill.
Vice President Sara Duterte has criticized President Marcos anew for failing to prosecute those involved in the flood control scandal.
“If it’s been a year since this corruption scandal and no one held accountable and no sincerity in the administration to investigate and imprison all those involved in that scandal, we will also see that they will do nothing with our problem brought by the war in the Middle East,” she said in an interview in Davao City. – Helen Flores, Neil Jayson Servallos, Ghio Ong, Bella Cariaso, Janvic Mateo
