The story is far from over.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla is demanding something simple — but powerful.
Individual truth.
Eighteen former Marines had earlier submitted a single sworn affidavit. In it, they claimed they were ordered to deliver suitcases filled with cash to certain officials. They said the instructions came from former Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co.
But for Remulla, one shared affidavit is not enough.
The accusations are too serious.
The stakes are too high.
“I want to get the individual affidavit of each of them. The allegations are serious,” Remulla told GMA Integrated News in an exclusive report by Saleema Refran on 24 Oras.
He wants clarity. He wants accountability.
“Para alam natin kung ano ang personal knowledge ng bawat isang tao,” he explained.
He stressed that investigators need to know what each Marine personally witnessed — what each one truly knows.
Right now, he believes their statements appear stitched together — different stories combined into one document.
“That shouldn’t be the case,” he said firmly.
The Ombudsman’s office will soon set a date for the former Marines to submit their individual affidavits.
Senate Investigation?
Remulla has also called on the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to step in and investigate the claims.
But Senator Panfilo Lacson is cautious.
For him, the allegations are hard to believe. Investigating them, he said, may prove difficult. Still, Lacson continues to fact-check every detail.
Because in matters like this — facts matter.
ICC Meeting Confirmed
The controversy does not stop there.
Remulla confirmed that he met with officials from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
The topic: protecting Filipino witnesses in the crimes against humanity case against former President Rodrigo Duterte.
In a separate interview with Jessica Soho, Trillanes admitted he has been coordinating with ICC investigators — but strongly denied any bribery.
“Sinasabi ko since 2017, nakikipag-ugnayan ako sa kanila, nakikipagtulungan ako sa kanila. Pagkalap ng testigo at ebidensya,” Trillanes said.
He has been helping gather witnesses and evidence since 2017, he explained.
And the bribery claims?
“Definitely, it’s a spin,” Trillanes said bluntly.
He believes the bribery narrative is being pushed to paint ICC investigators as corrupt — possibly to ask for a mistrial in the future.
Proof From the Marines
Meanwhile, the former Marines stood by their story.
In an interview with Jessica Soho, they presented identification cards bearing Zaldy Co’s alleged signature — proof, they say, that they worked under the former lawmaker.
The accusations are heavy.
The denials are firm.
The investigation is only beginning.
And now, the Ombudsman wants the truth — not as a chorus.
But from each voice.
