MANILA — Senator Imee Marcos has filed a resolution seeking a Senate investigation into explosive allegations made by former members of the Philippine Marine Corps, who claimed they were ordered to deliver suitcases of cash to various individuals, including top government officials. 

The resolution was filed on February 25, following a press conference by lawyer Levito Baligod and 18 ex-Marines who alleged that former Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co instructed them to act as couriers of money.

Baligod and the former Marines said they delivered cash to several politicians and even to the residence of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in Ilocos Norte between 2022 and 2025. They claimed the amounts reached as high as ₱805 billion, allegedly sourced from anomalous flood control projects.

The group also accused Co and former senator Antonio Trillanes IV of funding hotel accommodations for International Criminal Court (ICC) investigators during their visit to the Philippines.

Senator Marcos stressed that the allegations must be thoroughly examined. “These are serious accusations that involve not only former military personnel but also sitting officials. The Senate must look into this matter in aid of legislation,” she said in her resolution.

Malacañang, however, dismissed the claims as fabricated. Palace Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro described the allegations as a “lousy script,” insisting that the accusations were politically motivated and lacked credibility.

The controversy has sparked intense debate, with critics warning that the allegations, if proven true, could implicate high-ranking officials in one of the largest corruption scandals in recent history. Supporters of the administration, meanwhile, argue that the claims are part of a broader campaign to discredit President Marcos amid ongoing international scrutiny of the Duterte-era drug war.

The Senate inquiry, if approved, is expected to summon the ex-Marines, Baligod, and the individuals named in the allegations. The investigation could shed light on whether the supposed cash deliveries were part of a coordinated scheme or a politically motivated fabrication.