Several Philippine lawmakers have dismissed allegations made by a group of ex-Marines, who claimed to have delivered suitcases filled with cash to various politicians as part of a corruption scheme. Senators Vicente Sotto III and Erwin Tulfo were among those who refuted these claims during a Senate hearing, with Sotto stating he was not a senator during the alleged timeframe and that the aide mentioned is deceased. Tulfo called the allegations a blatant lie, emphasizing that he did not receive any public works projects during the specified years. Other lawmakers, including Palawan Rep. Jose Alvarez and Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima, also rejected the claims, with de Lima filing complaints for libel against the accusers. The accusations are viewed by many as an attempt to distract from the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, with lawmakers asserting that they will not be intimidated by what they consider baseless allegations. The credibility of the ex-Marines has been questioned, particularly after revelations that some were not actual members of the service.