Manila, Philippines – Controversial Notary Public Lawyer Charlie Pascual who notarized the joint affidavit of the former 18 marines appeared before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday.
Pascual is among the 20 personalities subpoenaed by the bureau and broke his silence, asserted that he was simply performing his duties as a notary public.
According to Pascual, a joint affidavit is not unusual. He noted that the only unique aspect of this case was the number of individuals involved—18 soldiers—all of whom he claims personally appeared before him to sign the document.
Pascual asserted that he has been a duly commissioned notary public in Las Piñas City for over a decade. He emphasized that he followed standard procedure and that there was nothing irregular about his actions.
NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag previously stated that the former soldiers might be the victims who were merely persuaded to show up regarding the allegedly delivered bribes to government officials
Matibag assured that if the investigation proves the soldiers were forced, those responsible will be held accountable. He added that the bureau has already identified the individuals behind the move but is still finalizing the evidence.
The NBI stated that investigators are currently evaluating the credibility and factual basis of the statements in the affidavit. This includes verifying the identities of the signatories and examining the roles of the individuals involved in processing the document.
The agency also expressed readiness to provide assistance and protection to the former soldiers should their lives be placed at risk, ensuring their safety throughout the process.