P20M to P25M offered to recant statements, says one of 18 ex-bodyguards

One of the 18 former bodyguards said Friday that they were offered P20 million to P25 million to recant their statements against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., former Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, and other personalities

George Villanon Jr. condemned four of his former colleagues for recanting their statements

“Masasabi ko lang sa kasama ko, sana naisipan ninyo nang mabuti 'yung sinasabi ninyo...Retired ka na Marines pero ano ang ginawa mo nagpadala ka sa pera. Sana naisipan mong maigi yung kasama mo na nahikayat mo silang tatlo, na kayo ang nag usap usap na bumaligtad kayo,” Villanon told reporters when he posted bail in Las Piñas court.

(All I can say to my colleague, I hope that you thought your words through. You are a retired Marines but what did you do, you gave in to money. I hope you considered the three others you influenced to recant.)

Pressed how much were offered to them to switch sides, Villanon said it was “P20 million to 25 million”.

He added that no other former bodyguards will recant.

"Hindi po totoo na 'yung iba magre-recant. Sila desisyon nila yun pero kami buo ang loob namin para manindigan namin na totoo ang sinasabi namin," said Villanon.

(It is not true that there are others who will also recant. That is their decision but the others are firm to stand by our statement.)

In a separate interview, lawyer Levito Baligod said the former bodyguards have been persuaded to recant for months.

"Kasi matagal itong nangyayaring ligawan, may mga offer na P5 million tumaas ng P10 million (It has been going on for months, they were initially offered P5 million, it was raised to P10 million)," he said.

Super Radyo dzBB's Nimfa Ravelo reported that Baligod did not specify who made the offer but showed reporters a text message from one of those who recanted, apologizing for being tempted.

Baligod said they will be holding a press conference on Saturday to explain what happened. He added he will be showing the text messages of those who recanted.

He said he understands them because they switched sides due to personal reasons.

He said some of them were afraid for their own security, and many of them just wanted to stay silent. The former bodyguards also cited the high cost of going to Manila for the preliminary investigation.

In February 2026, a group of 18 men who identified themselves as former security personnel of Co— some of them former Marines — surfaced publicly and executed affidavits alleging that they had delivered suitcases of cash.

Eight of the 18 ex-bodyguards signed affidavits that were submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Three of the eight recanted their statements while the other one who recanted was not part of the group that filed an affidavit with the Ombudsman.—AOL, GMA News