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Ex-Marines accuse 3 solons, former party-list rep of receiving kickbacks

Philippines | Visayas

Ex-Marines accuse 3 solons, former party-list rep of receiving kickbacks

By Tara Yap

REPS. Ang, Baronda, and Garin, and former congressman Manuel.

REPS. Ang, Baronda, and Garin, and former congressman Manuel.

ILOILO CITY – Three lawmakers and a former party-list representative from Iloilo were among the politicians who allegedly received kickbacks amounting to P805 billion delivered by 18 ex-Marines.

An affidavit from them presented by lawyer Levi Baligod on Tuesday identified them as Uswag Ilonggo party-list Rep. James “Jojo” Ang Jr., Iloilo City Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda, Iloilo first district Rep. Janette-Loretro Garin, and former Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel

Ang was accused of being a “congtractor” – the portmanteau of the words “congressman” and “contractor.”

Prior to being elected as party-list representative in 2022, Ang was a known associate of his uncle’s construction firms that won big-ticket government projects in Iloilo and Western Visayas region.

Ang was repeatedly accused of asking and receiving kickbacks from flood control projects. Among those who accused Ang were contractors Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II and his wife Sarah.

The delivery of the money in suitcases full of cash were allegedly masterminded by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and his cousin former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Baligod also linked the ex-Marines to Orly Guteza, also a former Marine and was part of the security of former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co.

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Iloilo Marines

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