One of the 18 former Philippine Marines claimed that he and former Congressman Zaldy Co delivered suitcases of cash to the residence of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

In a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the flood control controversy on Thursday held by the bloc of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, one of the ex-marines identified himself as Bernard Tube said the delivery was made in 2022.

"When we arrived, they were the only ones there. Congressman Sandro (Marcos) arrived first, then the President, and then the First Lady. They had dinner with Congressman Zaldy. We only returned to Manila the following morning," Tube said.

Co, the former House appropriations committee chairman, left the country after the discovery of a flood control scandal in 2025 which Marcos himself revealed. He is believed to be in France seeking asylum.

The 18 former Marine troops also accused other politicians of receiving money from flood control projects including Senator Erwin Tulfo who will lead the Blue Ribbon Committee of the new Senate bloc, former Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, who will lead the House impeachment team against Vice President Sara Duterte and ML Partylist Rep. Leila De Lima, one of the House prosecutors in the impeachment trial.

Others named by the former Marines were members of progressive group including former ACT Partylist Rep. France Castro, ex-Gabriela Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas, Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raoul Manuel and others.

Tulfo and Sotto vehemently denied the allegation. Senator Panfilo Lacson Jr,. slammed Cayetano for desperately and baselessly dragging his name into a bogus hearing of the Blue Ribbon Committee.

Lacson said Cayetano's attempt to link him to allegations involving the delivery of suitcases of cash through a helicopter was based on innuendoes.

Tulfo will hold their bloc's own Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the flood control scandal on Monday.

In a press briefing, Palace press officer Claire Castro dared the former Marines to prove their claims of delivering suitcases of money to the residence of the president in Paoay.

"Let them present the evidence first; it's easy to point fingers. Especially if what you really intend is to tear things down and act as an obstructionist or destabilizer," said Castro.

"They should prove it. They should give us documents, not just words," she added.

The Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the flood control mess that was presided over by Senator Pia Cayetano took place on Thursday after tension erupted when the 18 former Marines were initially prevented from attending.

During the tension, they were also blocked by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla even though Senator Pia Cayetano and Senator Robin Padilla were accompanying them towards the session hall.

The group of lawmakers led by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano insist that the session conducted on Wednesday by 12 lawmakers replacing the Senate leadership was invalid.

The group said that the majority number of members of the Senate is 13 not 12 is required to constitute a quorum. Robina Asido/PHS