Four members of the controversial “18 ex-Marines” group reportedly bowed to intense pressure and accepted multi-million peso offers to retract their previous testimonies.
United People’s Initiative President Brig. Gen. Atty. Virgilio Garcia confirmed that the four soldiers signed pre-drafted affidavits at the Office of the Ombudsman.
The retired general stated that instead of being questioned about their original complaint, the soldiers were subjected to negotiations aimed at securing their acceptance of financial incentives.
Garcia added that while it remains unconfirmed whether the ₱25 million offer was meant per individual or split among the four, the substantial sum proved decisive in swaying them.
