Ex-Marines Accuse Philippine Leaders in Major Corruption Scandal

Feb 25, 2026

65 min

Feb 25, 2026 05:32

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

## Explosive Allegations Surface

In a shocking development, 18 former Philippine Marines have come forward with allegations of corruption involving high-ranking officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. The accusations center around kickbacks from flood control projects, amounting to $13.9 billion.

## Details of the Scheme

The ex-Marines, who previously served as security for businessman Zaldy Co, claim they delivered cash-filled suitcases to residences linked to Co, Marcos Jr., and Romualdez. These deliveries were allegedly part of a coordinated scheme involving budget insertions related to flood control projects.

## Whistleblower's Role

Lawyer Levi Baligod, known for his involvement in the 2013 pork barrel scam, presented the group at a press conference. He described a system where destinations and suitcase contents were shared via group chat, with each suitcase reportedly containing around $833,200.

## Political Implications

The allegations have sparked a Senate investigation into numerous infrastructure projects, with claims that kickbacks inflated costs and compromised quality. The scandal is being compared to the Napoles-era pork barrel plunder but is considered much larger in scale.

## Ongoing Investigation

While the allegations remain unproven, the testimonies from the ex-Marines have intensified calls for accountability. The situation underscores ongoing governance challenges in the Philippines, testing public trust in the nation's institutions.

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