MARINES
ILOILO CITY – Former Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel denied allegations that he was among the politicians who received kickbacks delivered by 18 former Marines.
“Nakakahiya itong former Marines at Army! Mga asal Marites! (These former Marines and Army are embarrassing! They are gossipers!)” said Manuel in a statement.
Manuel was among four politicians in Iloilo who allegedly received kickbacks amounting to P805 billion.
“Di na nga nila naipagtanggol ang mga dagat natin mula sa panghihimasok ng mga banyaga, tapos gumawa pa sila ng mga kwento para idamay ang mga anti-Duterte na hindi kurakot (They have failed to defend our seas from foreign interference, but they made up stories to involve anti-Duterte people who are not corrupt),” added Manuel.
The former lawmaker reiterated the latest allegations is another attempt by the camp of former President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte to accuse their critics and detractors.
“Gets na namin na si Marcos Jr. ang hari ng kurapsyon sa bansa ngayon. Si Sara Duterte naman ang reyna. Pero bakit puro kalaban ng mga Duterte ang target ng affidavit nitong ex-Marines? Mga traydor sa bayan! (We already know that Marcos Jr. is the king of corruption in the country today. Sara Duterte is the queen. But why are only the enemies of the Dutertes targeted in the affidavit of these ex-Marines? Traitors to the people!)” he added.
Manuel said that it is also another attempt to link him to the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
“Sasabihin ba nila na binigay ko ang mga kickbak sa NPA, na sinasabi rin nilang paubos na? (Will they say that I gave the kickbacks to the NPA, which they also say is in decline?)” Manuel said.