NBI summons ex-Marines, others over bagmen claims

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

March 7, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has issued subpoenas to former lawmaker Mike Defensor, lawyer Levito Baligod and 18 men, mostly former Marines who claimed that they delivered suitcases of cash to several people on orders of former House appropriations committee chair Zaldy Co.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the lawyer who notarized the affidavit of the former soldiers was also subpoenaed.

“We are deputized by the ombudsman to investigate the issue. We are investigating and following all the leads and all the angles. We will check where the evidence will lead us,” Matibag told reporters yesterday.

Matibag said Defensor, Baligod and the former soldiers were ordered to appear before the NBI on March 11.

Citing an earlier statement by the Office of the Ombudsman, Matibag said some of those summoned might have pending or archived criminal cases.

Baligod and the former Marines earlier claimed they delivered cash to several people as instructed by Co, who is wanted in connection with the the multibillion-peso flood control scandal.

The politicians and other persons named in the allegations have denied the claims of the 18.

The Philippine Navy also said four of the 18 men were never members of the Navy or the Philippine Marines.

Defensor admitted assisting the group but denied any hand in the preparation of their affidavits.