MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) may conduct a preliminary investigation into the affidavit filed by 18 alleged former Marines accusing several officials of receiving money from former lawmaker Zaldy Co, if deputized by the Office of the Ombudsman, a DOJ official said.

Justice Department spokesperson Polo Martinez said the DOJ has a standing memorandum of agreement with the Ombudsman that allows it to be deputized for investigations when deemed appropriate.

“So if the Ombudsman deems it proper to deputize us for the conduct of investigation of any case, hindi lang po ito no, that applies generally, then yes of course we will conduct the PI, as long as may agreement po ang Office of the Ombudsman at ang DOJ,” Martinez said in an ambush interview.

The 18 former Marines, through their lawyer, submitted a notarized affidavit to the Ombudsman on Thursday detailing their allegations.

Martinez, however, clarified that there has been no coordination or discussion yet between the DOJ and the Ombudsman regarding the matter.

“We will have to wait and see,” he said.

Lawyer Levito Baligod earlier claimed that cash deliveries totaling P805 billion were made to certain public officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Marcos has previously denied the allegations linking him to the alleged scheme. Several other individuals named by the former Marines have also rejected the accusations against them.