Baligod laughs off Senate threat accusation

The lawyer for the 18 ex-bodyguards of former Congressman Zaldy Co laughed off insinuations that the alleged Senate threat had something to do with his clients.

Speaking at the Ombudsman where he appeared with former bodyguard Johnny Buduan for a fact-finding investigation before the body, Atty. Levi Baligod calls the allegation “funny.”

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who was earlier elected Senate President Pro-tempore by a new majority, had alleged that the Senate in under threat as communicated by the National Bureau of Investigation.

“Naniniwala ba kayo kay (Do you believe in) Win Gatchalian at (NBI Director Melvin) Matibag? Puro kasinungalingan ‘yung sinasabi nila (What they're saying are all lies). It’s funny,” he said.

Baligod claimed his camp had been subjected to background checks by the government’s intelligence apparatus.

“I don’t know people of their stature supposed to be engage in such inane accusations. We do not know violence, we do not know dissidence,” he said.

Baligod added that they were even willing to participate in the hearing conducted by Senate Blue Ribbon committee chairman Sen. Erwin Tulfo.

“We are peaceful people. We do not know violence. We do not know dissidents,” he added.

Individual affidavits

At the Ombudsman, Baligod said they are heeding the order of Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla that the eighteen “should all issue individual affidavits” and would tell-all to investigators about alleged deliveries of flood control projects kickbacks to several lawmakers.

The Ombudsman has issued subpoenas to at least five former bodyguards to appear on June 11, 15 and 16.

“Each of the 18 will share to the Ombudsman investigators everything that they know. Because in the joint affidavit, we just provided a glimpse just to warrant an investigation,” he said.

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano says it is too early to tell if any recommendation for filing of potential charges can come out of its fact-finding into the former bodyguards allegations..

“It’s too early to tell. Let’s allow the investigators to gather as much information as they can before making any conclusions.There are teams on the different persons under investigation. So, they will all ask questions relative to those cases,” he said.

At least four lawmakers have filed cyberlibel and related complaints against the 18 bodyguards over their alleged false claims.

The multiple complaints, however, do not faze Baligod.

“That [filing of cases] is their right. We are unbothered,” Baligod said —with a report from Llanesca T. Panti/RSJ/RF, GMA News