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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Pirmahan niyo': Barbers issues challenge to Baligod, Marine-bagmen behind cash luggage claim

'Pirmahan niyo': Barbers issues challenge to Baligod, Marine-bagmen behind cash luggage claim

Published Feb 26, 2026 10:24 am

At A Glance

  • Former House quad-committee (quad-comm) lead chairman Robert Ace Barbers has challenged lawyer Levi Baligod and the so-called 18 Marine-bagmen to duly execute the affidavit wherein they claimed that he and other ex-and current House members received money from the flood control projects mess.
Former Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Former Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)


Former House quad-committee (quad-comm) lead chairman Robert Ace Barbers has challenged lawyer Levi Baligod and the so-called 18 Marine-bagmen to duly execute the affidavit wherein they claimed that he and other ex-and current House members received money from the flood control projects mess.
"To Attorney Levi Baligod: If what your companions are saying is true and if you stand on their starements, then have them sign their affidavit AND HAVE IT NOTARIZED para hindi mag mukhang script ng isang drama skit sa barangay. Pirmahan niyo (so as not to make if look like a barangay drama script. Sign it)," Barbers said in a statement Thursday, Feb. 26.
The former three-term Surigao del Norte 2nd district congressman was referring to a press conference led by Baligod last Tuesday, Feb. 24, wherein he presented 18 men who claimed to be ex-Marines.
Baligod accused President Marcos of masterminding the delivery of billions worth of alleged kickbacks to politicians from anomalous flood control projects, and that the Marines were the ones who made the deliveries involving "luggages filled with cash".
The list of personalities who allegedly received the cash luggages made rounds on social media in an affidavit that wasn't signed by the accusers.
"You should have known from the start that an unsigned affidavit is just a scrap of paper," Barbers, one of those mentioned on the list, told Baligod.
"As their lawyer you should have been diligent and thorough enough sa tulong mo sa kanila by having it signed and notarized para naman paniwalaan ka nila na crusader ka at hindi lang 'ambulance chaser'," he said.
(As their lawyer, you should have been diligent and thorough in assisting them by ensuring the document was signed and notarized, so they could believe you are a crusader, not merely an 'ambulance chaser'.)
Barbers described the affidavit as nothing more than a hack job carried out by paid "mercenaries".
"What kind of soldiers are you? Are you even soldiers? It seems you are just mercenaries out to make a buck," said the ex-solon, who as leader of the quad-comm exposed the inner workings of former president Rodrigo Duterte's drug war--specifically the "pay-for-slay" scheme allegedly followed by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Barbers' co-chairmen in the quad-comm--former Santa Rosa lone district Rep. Dan Fernandez, former Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen "Caraps" Paduano, and current Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido "Benny" Abante Jr.--were also listed as alleged recipients, as well as solons who actively participated in the mega-panel's hearings during the previous 19th Congress.
"Are you all afraid of the legal consequences from the people you accused, that's why you opted not to sign?" he further asked.
"Panis yung script ninyo. Zarzuela lang ito para makapanira ng mga tao (Your script is garbage. This is a mere stage play meant to hurt people)," Barbers said.
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