Court issues arrest warrants against 18 'maleta boys'; 14 post bail 

A Las Piñas court has issued an arrest warrant for the 18 “maleta boys” or the ex-bodyguards of former lawmaker Zaldy Co.

According to a DZBB report from Nimfa Ravelo on Friday, Judge Kathryn Sabado had issued an arrest warrant against the former bodyguards in relation to the four counts of perjury that each of them faces.

Each count of perjury has a bail of P18,000, so the bodyguards are looking at a total bail of P72,000.

The ex-bodyguards had implicated several personalities in the flood control scandal, with many of the accused personalities denying the allegations and filing perjury charges in return.

The arrest warrants against the 18 former bodyguards stem from charges filed by House lawmaker Leila de Lima, former senator Sonny Trillanes IV, former National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, and Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr.

The warrants of arrest were issued on Tuesday, with the ex-bodyguards' lawyer Levito Baligod filing a motion to reduce the bail on Wednesday.

Baligod said that he was now only representing 14 of the 18 former bodyguards who were facing charges.

In an interview with the media, Baligod said that the four he was no longer representing have recanted their statements. —Jean Mangaluz/LDF, GMA News