President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday was accused of being the “mastermind” of a multibillion-peso corruption scheme where members of the Philippine Marine Corps were used to deliver suitcases of cash to politicians —including investigators of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Lawyer Levito Baligod made the allegation in a press conference at Club Filipino in San Juan where he appeared alongside 18 former Marines whom he identified as former comrades of “Floodgate” surprise witness Master Sgt. Orly Regala Guteza.

Guteza had earlier surfaced in the Senate in connection with its investigation into the anomalous flood control projects.

Baligod said he is in possession of sworn affidavits from the Marines detailing repeated deliveries of cash-filled suitcases to unnamed politicians.

Alleged flood control racket

According to Baligod, the money —totaling P805 billion — was connected to anomalous flood control projects funded by the national government. Flood mitigation projects have been among the largest infrastructure allocations under recent national budgets, drawing scrutiny from some lawmakers and watchdog groups over alleged overpricing and ghost projects.

Baligod claimed that even before certain flood control contracts could formally begin, Marines were already “remitting” money from the Valle Verde residence of former House Representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co in Pasig City.

“Even before their contracts started, they were already remitting cash from Mr. Zaldy Co at his house,” Baligod said in Filipino.

He alleged that Co’s staff would check and verify the amounts inside bags of cash before these were packed into suitcases and delivered to various officials.

Baligod directly implicated President Marcos in the supposed disbursement scheme.

“The root cause and mastermind of the corruption is none other than President Marcos. Both Speaker Romualdez and Zaldy Co won’t act without the orders of PBBM,” he said.

“I hold him responsible because, being the Chief Executive, he is the chief implementer of our laws,” he added.

The President, former Speaker Martin Romualdez, and Co have not issued statements on the accusations as of press time.

ICC jurisdiction questioned

Baligod expanded his allegations to include ICC investigators who were probing former President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial anti-drug campaign.

The Philippines formally withdrew from the Rome Statute — the treaty that created the ICC — in March 2019 during Duterte’s administration. However, the ICC has maintained that it retained jurisdiction over crimes committed while the Philippines was a member-state, particularly those that occurred between 2016 and 2019.

Baligod rejected that position, insisting that ICC jurisdiction over the country ended in March 2019. He described the international tribunal’s ongoing proceedings as “manufactured” and not “bona fide.”

Alleged funds for ICC visit

Baligod claimed that shortly before ICC investigators arrived in the Philippines in December 2023, the Marines were instructed to prepare two bags containing P56 million supposedly intended for “foreigners.” He said the Marines later identified the individuals as ICC officers who would be interviewing witnesses in the drug war investigation.

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has publicly stated that ICC probers visited the country in December 2023 to meet with witnesses.

Baligod, however, alleged that the investigators interviewed only the witnesses identified by Trillanes, conducted interviews in private properties instead of government offices, and allowed their vehicles, food, and accommodations to be paid for by individuals politically opposed to Duterte.

“The ICC investigators themselves committed graft and corruption,” Baligod alleged.

The ICC has previously maintained that its investigations follow strict legal and procedural standards.

Ombudsman complaint planned

Baligod said he intends to file a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman based on the affidavits he claims to possess.

“I am holding onto a sliver of hope that the Ombudsman will do his job,” he said.

If government institutions do not act on his complaint, Baligod said he is prepared to wait for the next administration to pursue the matter.

“We will prove that the conduct of the ICC investigators in the Philippines was unprecedented because they were dined and wined by people who are publicly known to be opponents of the people hosting them,” he said.

Palace: ICC has no jurisdiction over Phl

As of posting, Malacañang has not directly addressed Baligod’s specific allegations, but the Palace has maintained that the ICC currently has no jurisdiction over the Philippines and has branded as “preposterous” related claims linking Marcos to supposed ICC maneuverings.

Former Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV, on the other hand, categorically denied Baligod’s claims and is preparing legal action against him and the ex-Marines involved.

Trillanes said he “vehemently denies” receiving any amount from former lawmaker Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co in connection with the ICC investigation “or any other purpose,” calling the allegation a “blatant lie” intended to discredit the Hague proceedings against Rodrigo Duterte.

He also announced plans to file cyberlibel cases against Atty. Levi Baligod, former Congressman Mike Defensor, broadcaster Jay Sonza, 18 ex-soldiers, and others “maliciously circulating” the claim online, warning: “I will not be distracted. Hahabulin ko kayo.”

Who is Levi Baligod?

Levito “Levi” Baligod is a Filipino lawyer and anti‑corruption advocate known for representing the whistleblowers in the multibillion‑peso PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) or pork barrel scam that led to plunder cases filed against Janet Lim‑Napoles and several lawmakers in 2013.

Hailing from Tuao, Cagayan, he studied Economics and Political Science at the University of the Philippines and Law at San Beda and the University of the East, passing the Bar in 2000.

Baligod ran as an independent senatorial candidate in 2016 on an anti‑corruption platform but lost. He has pursued high‑profile cases, including the Governor Degamo murder and, most recently, alleged flood control and ICC‑linked corruption involving President Marcos and other officials.