Not our Marines

By Herman M. Lagon

There are many things Filipinos disagree on these days. Politics. History. The economy. Even the weather somehow becomes political. But there is one habit we seem to share regardless of which side we are on: When one person gets into trouble, we often drag the entire group along with him.

I have seen it happen in schools. One teacher commits a mistake, and suddenly people start talking as if all teachers are the same. One student gets involved in a fight, and an entire class earns a reputation. It is human nature, perhaps. We look for shortcuts. Unfortunately, shortcuts are not always fair.

As the story of the so-called “18 Marines” grew bigger, so did public interest. The allegations were serious. Former military personnel and security aides claimed that PHP 805 billion from the flood-control program had been distributed through more than 16,000 cash-filled maletas to various personalities. If true, the country deserves answers.

The controversy took another unexpected turn when NBI lawyer Melvin Matibag alleged that at least one of the individuals involved had received PHP 350,000 from a reported PHP 5 million offer allegedly tied to influencing testimony. If true, the issue becomes far more complicated than many initially assumed. That is why patience and facts remain essential.

Yet as the controversy unfolded, I found myself worrying about something else entirely. The Marine Corps.

Maybe that comes from having spent much of my life around the military. From CAT to ROTC and now as a reserve lieutenant colonel, I have seen the institution from different angles. I know its flaws. I know its strengths. That is precisely why I feel compelled to speak. No institution is beyond criticism, but neither should an institution be judged for actions that may belong only to a few individuals.

The AFP itself has already clarified something many people seemed to miss. The phrase “18 Marines” makes for a catchy headline, but reality appears far more complicated. None of the individuals involved were active Marines. Reports indicate that 15 had already been separated from the service, including 12 who were reportedly dishonorably discharged. Some had served for only a short period — barely a year in certain cases. Others reportedly faced administrative, corruption-related, or disciplinary issues, while some had gone AWOL. Several were already civilians or reservists rather than active-duty Marines. A number were reportedly working as private aides, escorts, or security personnel attached to political personalities. In short, the label “18 Marines” risks creating an impression that does not accurately reflect who these individuals actually were at the time.

To some people, that may sound like a minor detail. I do not think it is.

The difference between an active Marine and a former Marine acting in a private capacity is not a matter of semantics. It is the difference between holding an institution accountable and holding an individual accountable.

Over the years, I have met soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines from different walks of life. Most were ordinary Filipinos doing difficult jobs under circumstances many civilians will never fully experience. They missed birthdays. They missed Christmas celebrations. They missed graduations, anniversaries, and family milestones because duty required them somewhere else.

Most of them will never make the news. Most will never become famous. Many would probably be uncomfortable with public attention. Yet they continue showing up anyway.

That is why I struggle when I see the Marine Corps itself drawn into a controversy involving individuals who may no longer have been serving it at all — especially now.

In recent years, many have found new reasons to appreciate the Marine Corps. We have watched them stand their ground in difficult situations involving our territorial waters. Even under pressure, they have often chosen discipline over drama, professionalism over provocation, and duty over attention.

The trust they enjoy today did not appear overnight. It was earned slowly — one deployment, one mission, and one sacrifice at a time. And because it was earned that way, I believe it deserves a measure of fairness, too.

That fairness begins with making an important distinction.

If specific individuals committed wrongdoing, then let those individuals answer for it. If the allegations are true, let the evidence prove them. If they are false, let the truth expose them. That is how accountability should work.

But let us not confuse individuals with an institution.

These are not our Marines.

Our Marines are not known for making noise. They are known for showing up. They show up when disasters strike communities. They show up when our waters need protecting. They show up when assignments are difficult, uncomfortable, and dangerous. They continue showing up even when nobody is watching and when recognition is nowhere to be found.

The controversy will pass. The investigations will run their course. The headlines will eventually move on.

Long after the noise of politics fades, the Philippine Marine Corps will still be there. Marines will continue standing watch over our shores, reporting for duty far from family, and serving the country whether cameras are present or not. Marines will continue to deserve our snappy salute.

It deserves to be remembered not for the allegations surrounding a handful of former individuals, but for the generations of Marines who earned its good name through sacrifice, discipline, professionalism, and quiet service to the Filipino people.

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Doc H fondly describes himself as a “student of and for life” who, like many others, aspires to a life-giving and why-driven world grounded in social justice and the pursuit of happiness. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the institutions he is employed by or connected with.