Manila: Four out of the 18 reported individuals claiming to be associated with the Philippine Marine Corps as aides to fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co and alleged bagmen to senior government officials were never actually part of the military service, the Philippine Navy announced. The majority of these individuals had been dishonorably discharged, while some retired under standard conditions. According to Philippines News Agency, the Navy spokesperson Capt. Marissa Martinez confirmed that official records showed these discrepancies. "Based on official records, four were never members of the Philippine Navy or the Philippine Marine Corps," she stated. The statement was released following the circulation of a video where the individuals claimed to have delivered PHP805 billion to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Martinez declined to specify the number of dishonorably discharged former members, citing respect for their families. "We cannot give a number because of the families lalo na po (especially) if dishonorable ang pagkaka-discharge sa kanila (is the reason for their discharge from the service)," she explained. She urged the public to critically assess information sources and platforms to combat misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation. Regarding Orly Guteza, Martinez reiterated that he retired from service in June 2020 and is no longer under Navy authority. Guteza previously testified in a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing about allegedly delivering "luggages of cash" to the Chief Executive. Martinez emphasized the Navy's commitment to constitutional processes, including judicial and legislative inquiries. "The Navy does not and will never prevent any individual from testifying the truth," she asserted, stressing the Navy's core values and principles. She concluded by affirming the Navy's professionalism, discipline, and non-partisan stance, pledging never to compromise on values, integrity, and reputation. "We remain steadfast in our mandate to d efend the country's sovereignty and serve the Filipino people," Martinez added.