EDITORIAL — Tell it to the marines

One of the more interesting characters to surface lately are these 18 ex-marines --but whom the marines have asked to be referred to henceforth as former bodyguards of Rep. Zaldy Co-- and their claims.

They said they were involved in the flood-control scandal but only as bagmen, and that they were the ones who delivered bags containing money to, among others, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Senators Vicente "Tito" Sotto III and Erwin Tulfo, Representative Leila de Lima, and former Rep. France Castro.

Those who have been accused have denied receiving any bags containing money. One of them, Senator Sotto, has even cited anachronysms after a former bodyguard said he brought two bags to Senator Sotto’s building in Baclaran, where it was allegedly received by a certain "Mark" sometime between 2022 and 2025.

“I said that back then. I will not dignify such because I was not a senator from 2022 to 2025. The name they mentioned as my EA (executive assistant) who was appointed was Mark. Mark died in 2015,” Sotto said in a message to reporters.

And the latest twist? The former bodyguards said one person whom they included in a former affidavit as having received bags of money has been conveniently removed from the list of “beneficiaries” after she joined another Senate faction. We are referring of course to Senator Loren Legarda.

These are just two reasons why many find it hard to believe their claims.

There is a saying that goes “Tell it to the marines”, which is often the sarcastic response when someone hears a tall tale too incredible to be believed. In short, a lie.

Considering that these former bodyguards actually served in the marines before being dishonorably discharged, there seems to be no other appropriate response to their claims.

We suspect this won’t be the last time they revise their statement, or add or remove names to their list of “beneficiaries” depending on who switches teams in this Senate drama in the next few days or weeks.