Former partylist representative Mike Defensor and former Armed Forces chief of staff Hermogenes Esperon Jr., along with members of the '18 Marines,' hold a news conference to discuss recent developments, personal appeals, and public concerns regarding their case, at the Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig City on March 5, 2026.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
The branding stuck, but only a few of the 18 can be called former Marines
The individuals accusing many government officials of receiving kickbacks contained in suitcases have been labeled “ex-Marines.”
It’s a branding that stuck, but quite inaccurate. Rappler’s Dwight de Leon explains why. – Rappler.com
