By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The lawyer representing the remaining members of the so-called “maleta boys” is preparing an affidavit to challenge claims made by four former members of the group who have withdrawn allegations contained in their earlier sworn statements.
Lawyer Levito Baligod said Friday that he met with officials at the Office of the Ombudsman to discuss how to strengthen the case and address the circumstances surrounding the recantation of the four witnesses.
Baligod appeared at the Ombudsman with most of the remaining 14 individuals identified as former bodyguards of ex-Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co.
The group had previously alleged that they delivered suitcases containing cash to Co, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Four of the alleged bodyguards later recanted their accusations against Romualdez, Co and Marcos, according to a report cited in the original account.
Baligod said he would work with Ombudsman lawyers on an affidavit based on the accounts of those who witnessed the questioning of the witnesses during their proceedings before investigators.
He said the affidavit would dispute allegations by the recanters that they had been pressured into signing prepared statements and threatened with multiple criminal charges if they refused.
The lawyer said members of the remaining group would also contradict claims that Ombudsman lawyers had intimidated or coerced the four witnesses.
At the same time, Baligod maintained that the four recanters had themselves been subjected to what he described as psychological and financial pressure.
The controversy comes as the Ombudsman investigates allegations involving Romualdez and Co over the supposed accumulation of approximately P56 billion in ill-gotten wealth from 2022 to 2025.
Investigators have described the alleged acts involving the two former lawmakers as “concerted and coordinated,” with the bodyguards’ earlier accounts forming part of the evidence cited in the complaint-affidavits.
The Ombudsman complaint referenced statements from three of the four individuals who later withdrew their allegations. They claimed they had been pressured during their appearance before investigators to sign affidavits that were already prepared.
Baligod originally submitted a joint affidavit signed by 18 alleged former bodyguards to the Ombudsman in February.
However, Ombudsman officials later required the individuals to submit separate affidavits, arguing that a single collective narration could raise questions about the credibility and individual knowledge of the witnesses.
Only eight of the 18 eventually submitted separate affidavits to the Ombudsman.
Three of the four individuals who later recanted their allegations were among those eight, while the fourth had not submitted a separate affidavit.
Meanwhile, the 10 remaining “maleta boys” were released from police custody after posting bail on four counts of perjury, according to Baligod.
The competing accounts are now set to become a key issue in the Ombudsman’s continuing examination of the allegations and the credibility of the witnesses involved.
ia/xf
