Philippine Marine Corps commandant Major General Vicente Blanco III has criticized former members of the Philippine Marine Corps who participated in a press conference alleging cash deliveries to politicians.
“It is unfortunate that in the recent presscon called by a private lawyer, three retired Marines involved themselves,” Blanco said in a statement addressed to active Marines.
He urged personnel to reject attempts by “opportunistic groups or individuals trying to link their actions as being true Marine.”
“Barring use of force, threats, intimidation, and/or promise of rewards to them, based on the information available to us, we understand that their involvement was entirely of their own choosing, and that they did this on their own personal volition and as such, we should always look with disdain against opportunistic groups or individuals trying to link their actions as being true Marine,” Blanco said.
“They are unworthy of our respect,” he added.
Blanco also emphasized that those discharged without honor cannot invoke the phrase “Once a Marine, Always a Marine” to justify their actions.
“Reiterating our time-honored Marine ethos and our unquestioned and strong esprit de corps, an individual who was Discharged Without Honor could not claim the adage ‘Once a Marine, Always a Marine’ to lend credence to his actions,” he said.
On Tuesday, 18 individuals presented as supposed former Marines, along with their lawyer Atty. Levito Baligod, claimed they delivered suitcases of cash to various politicians, including Ferdinand Marcos Jr.. Malacañang and other political figures dismissed the allegations.
“Paulit-ulit na kasinungalingan laban sa Pangulo, lousy script, hindi pang-award winning. Hindi malinis, alam mo na may kasinungalingan… so sino ba ang nasa likod nito? (These are repeated lies against the President, a lousy script, not even award-winning. It’s not clean—you can tell there are lies. So who is behind this?),” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said.
“Siguro dapat malaman ninyo kung sino ba ang may-ari ng sasakyan na siyang sumundo sa kanila matapos ang press briefing o press conference nila. Paulit-ulit na kasinungalingan (Maybe you should find out who owns the vehicle that fetched them after their press briefing or press conference. These are repeated lies),” Castro added.
The Philippine Navy earlier said that four of the 18 individuals were never members of the Navy or the Marine Corps.
Navy spokesperson Capt. Marissa Martinez said the majority were discharged dishonorably, while others retired in good standing.
“We remind the public to be discerning and to verify the accuracy and credibility of information, including the source and platform used, in order to help prevent and counter misinformation, disinformation and malinformation which have become increasingly prevalent,” Martinez said.