Aguirre informant withdraws claim, clears Jamby in bribe try

The informant of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has withdrawn her claim that former Senator Jamby Madrigal tried to bribe high-profile inmates to retract their testimonies against Senator Leila de Lima, an "Unang Balita" report said Thursday.

According to Lalaine Martinez, wife of drug convict Noel Martinez, she was not exactly sure of what she told Aguirre.

Aguirre cited Martinez's statements in tagging Madrigal and Laguna Rep. Marlyn Alonte-Naguiat in the alleged bribery attempt.

He said the two offered P100 million to high-profile inmates to retract their testimonies against De Lima, who is now detained in Camp Crame on drug-related charges.

Martinez has already offered her apologies to Madrigal.

"Ako lang po 'yung nagsabi kay Secretary noon na baka may kinalaman [si Jamby]," she said in the report.

"Ako na 'yung humihingi [ng tawad] in behalf of Secretary Aguirre, kasi ako talaga 'yung nag-field kay Secretary Aguirre na, 'Sir baka galing talaga 'yan, Sir kasi may tumawag sa akin'," she added.

She, however, insisted on receiving a call from a person who introduced herself as Alonte and claimed that she offered money to the inmates. 

Alonte has already denied Martinez's accusations. —Erwin Colcol/KBK, GMA News