The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is moving decisively to separate itself from the controversial group of men repeatedly referred to as the “18 Marines,” signaling a clear effort to prevent the military institution from being dragged deeper into the escalating political storm surrounding alleged flood control fund anomalies.
As the Senate once again became the stage for explosive allegations involving cash-filled bags allegedly delivered to politicians and influential figures, the AFP stressed that the individuals at the center of the controversy were acting as private citizens and not as representatives of the military.
AFP Public Affairs Office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad emphasized that describing the group as “Marines” or even “former Marines” risks creating the false impression that the Armed Forces or the Philippine Marine Corps had some connection to the allegations.
“The acts and allegations being discussed occurred when these individuals were no longer in active military service,” Trinidad said.
The military clarification came just days after several members of the group resurfaced during a Senate hearing investigating alleged irregularities in flood control projects. Their appearance alongside lawmakers reignited public attention on claims that they had served as security personnel for former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and allegedly transported bags containing large sums of money to prominent personalities.
But the AFP appears determined to prevent the controversy from becoming a stain on the institution itself.
Rather than referring to the group as “Marines,” Trinidad urged the public and media to describe them based on their actual roles in the controversy — as witnesses, affiants, former staff members, or bodyguards.
The latest statement underscores a growing effort by the current AFP leadership to protect the credibility of the military amid an increasingly politicized controversy that has spilled from press conferences into the halls of Congress.
Adding to the distancing effort, the Philippine Navy had earlier disclosed that not all members of the group even had military backgrounds.
According to Philippine Navy spokesperson Capt. Marissa Martinez, four of the 18 individuals were never members of either the Navy or the Philippine Marine Corps.
Even more striking, Martinez revealed that most of those who did have military affiliations were no longer in service, with many reportedly having been dishonorably discharged.
While she declined to provide exact figures out of consideration for their families, the disclosure further weakened the narrative that the group represented a collective of former elite military personnel.
The AFP’s latest clarification sends a clear message: whatever allegations are being made in the Senate, the military wants no part of them.
As the flood control controversy intensifies and political factions continue to trade accusations, the AFP is drawing a firm institutional boundary—making it clear that the actions, testimonies, and claims of the so-called “18 Marines” belong solely to the individuals involved and not to the Armed Forces they once claimed to represent.