National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag said Saturday that the recantation by four of the 18 “maleta boys” of their allegations that they delivered suitcases containing kickback money from flood control projects to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez has bolstered the bureau’s finding that they are “unreliable witnesses.”
“Ngayon na binabawi na [nila], it bolsters the position of the NBI, the findings of the NBI based on our investigation na unreliable witness kasi sa ngayon hindi na po alam kung ano ang paniniwalaan [sa] kanila. Hindi na rin alam ng apat na ito kung saan sila lulugar,” Matibag said during the Saturday News Forum.
The statement came after four men who identified themselves as former bodyguards of former Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co withdrew their earlier sworn statements linking Marcos, Romualdez, Co, and other personalities to alleged kickbacks from flood control projects.
In a television interview, the “maleta boys” claimed they had been promised financial compensation for their earlier statements alleging that they delivered luggage containing money from flood control project kickbacks to Marcos and Romualdez.
In newly executed notarized affidavits, the four formally recanted their statements implicating the President and the former House Speaker in alleged bribery and cash deliveries.
The men also claimed they had been recruited into the scheme by their legal handler, lawyer Levito Baligod, who allegedly promised them substantial financial compensation.
Meanwhile, 10 of the 18 alleged bagmen of Co, or the “maleta boys,” were arrested by police on Friday after they failed to post bail in connection with four counts of perjury.
The 10 were read their Miranda rights before being taken into custody. Las Piñas Police Assistant Chief of Police for Operations Lt. Col. Teoson Rosarito said they would be released once they post bail.
For his part, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla accused Romualdez of having a hand in the recantation of the four former bodyguards, although he did not make a similar allegation against Marcos.
Romualdez, however, rejected the Ombudsman’s accusation.
Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, meanwhile, said he would withdraw the cyber libel and other legal cases he had filed against the four ex-bodyguards following their retraction of the allegations.
