“Lousy script. Hindi pang award-winning.“
This was the reaction of Malacañang to the allegation that President Ferdinand “Bongbong“ Marcos Jr. was the “mastermind” behind the “male-maletang pera” or suitcases filled with cash in the flood control scandal.
During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro dismissed accusations made by lawyer Levito “Levy“ Baligod and a group of 18 former Philippine Marine Corps who claimed they acted as “bagmen“ delivering suitcases filled with cash to Marcos, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co.
Castro emphasized that the narrative had been circulated multiple times despite lacking evidence.
“Paulit-ulit na kasinungalingan laban sa Pangulo. Lousy script. Hindi pang award-winning. Hindi malinis. Alam mo na may kasinungalingan,” Castro said.
Castro also urged the media and the public to scrutinize the individuals behind the allegations. She called attention to the vehicle that reportedly fetched Baligod and the 18 Marines after their press conference, suggesting that identifying its owner could reveal who was orchestrating the accusations.
“Sino ba ang nasa likod nito? Siguro dapat malaman ninyo kung sino ba ang may-ari ng sasakyan na siyang sumundo sa kanila matapos ang press briefing or presscon nila. So, paulit-ulit na kasinungalingan,” she said.
“I believe hindi kayo mabubulag. Same people,” she added.
However, Castro did not disclose the identity of the individual she was referring to.
When asked whether the Palace intends to file charges against those spreading what it considers false information, Castro pointed to law enforcement agencies, such as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“Nandiyan lang ang NBI. Nandyan lang PNP. Dapat malaman nila ito. Obligasyon nila na kasuhan ang mga nagpapakalat ng fake news. Dapat pa ba silang utusan? Hindi po. Obligasyon ng NBI, PNP, DOJ,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Former Congressman Mike Defensor denied involvement in the allegations of multibillion-peso corruption exposed by the Marine, saying the initiative was led by Baligod and supported by certain military officials.
The Philippine Navy said on Tuesday that four of the 18 supposed former members of the Marines had never been members of the army, and many of the others were dishonorably discharged from service.
