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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Imbento': De Lima blasts Baligod's new 'paper bag' claim

'Imbento': De Lima blasts Baligod's new 'paper bag' claim

Published Feb 26, 2026 04:13 pm

At A Glance

  • House Deputy Minority Leader Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima slammed on Thursday, Feb. 26 the "amended" allegations of lawyer Levi Baligod, whom she said was just "inventing" claims.
Lawyer Levi Baligod (left), Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima (Facebook, MANILA BULLETIN)
Lawyer Levi Baligod (left), Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima (Facebook, MANILA BULLETIN)


House Deputy Minority Leader Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima slammed on Thursday, Feb. 26 the "amended" allegations of lawyer Levi Baligod, whom she said was just "inventing" claims.
"Whether sa maleta o sa paper bag o anuman yan, malinaw na imbento lang yan (Whether in a suitcase, a paper bag, or whatever form, it’s clearly just fabricated)," De Lima said in a post on X.
"Nagkakabuhol-buhol na agad yung kwento nila dahil sa lantarang kasinungalingan at paninira na naman sa akin! (Their story is already tangled up because again of the blatant lies and malicious attacks against me!)” the former Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary added.
It all started Tuesday, Feb. 24 when Baligod and 18 alleged Marine-bagmen included De Lima on the list of former and current House members who received "luggages of cash" that was sourced from anomalous flood control projects.
Then, on Thursday, Baligod addressed the observation made by some sectors that De Lima only became a congresswoman on June 30, 2025, or at the start of the 20th Congress.
"Totoo po yun na 2025 lang siya no, pero ang binabanggit kasi nila noon ay nakakasama siya sa mga meeting patungkol sa ICC (International Criminal Court), no? Kaya nilagay ko na lamang siya sa mga miyenbro ng Congress," Baligod said in an online interview.
(It’s true that it was only in 2025, but what they were saying back then was that she was attending meetings about the ICC. That’s why I simply listed her among the members of Congress.)
"Pupwede pong error yun on my part. Pero yun po ang sinasabi nila, si Congresswoman Leila de Lima ay pumupunta sa townhouse na yun at paglabas niya ay mayroon siyang bitbit na paper bag na pera ang laman nun," the lawyer nonchalantly said, as if he wasn't making a serious accusation.
(It could have been an error on my part. But what they were claiming was that Congresswoman Leila de Lima would go to that townhouse, and when she came out, she was carrying a paper bag filled with money.)
Baligod claimed that the paper bag contained "either P5 or P10 million".
De Lima had earlier described the allegation that she received money as "preposterous"
"How preposterous! Sobrang nakakatawa ang pinalalabas nilang isa ako sa mga pinadalhan o tumanggap ng maleta (It’s utterly laughable that they’re trying to make it seem like I was one of those who received or accepted a suitcase). Clear demolition job, concoction of lies. I absolutely and firmly deny any such ridiculous claim," she said in a statement.
On Thursday, De Lima said that Baligod was "playing fast and loose with his license to practice law".
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