Palace: Recantation by 4 ex-bodyguards exposes 'fabricated' Duterte camp claims

Malacañang said Friday that the recantation of the four supposed ex-bodyguards of former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co of their allegations against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and others reflected how supporters of the Duterte camp allegedly hired people to fabricate stories in exchange for money.

This, after four of the 18 alleged bagmen signed affidavits recanting their allegations in previous sworn statements against the President, former Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, Co, and other personalities, saying that their previous claims were not true.

“Nakikita naman natin ang mga style ng mga Duterte supporters kung paano sila mag-hire ng mga tao na gumawa ng kathang-isip na kwento kapalit ang malaking halaga laban sa Pangulo,” Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro said this in a video message.

(We see the style of Duterte supporters in how they hire people to make fabricated stories against the President in exchange for a large sum of money.)

“Marami ang nakakaramdam na parte ito ng plano nina Mike Defensor at ibang kasamahan niya para sa isang destabilisasyon,” she added.

(Many feel that this is part of the plan of Mike Defensor and his allies to cause destabilization.)

In February, 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 to Marcos, Romualdez, Co and other personalities. Lawyer Levi Baligod presented their affidavits.

Recently, four of them signed newly executed affidavits recanting their earlier statements. They also said they signed the earlier joint affidavit because they had allegedly been promised financial assistance.

Castro said it is up to the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate and take necessary steps on the matter.

“Kung ano man ang mga naimbestigahan ng Office of the Ombudsman sa ‘maleta boys’ patungkol kay dating Speaker Romualdez at ibang naituturo pa, ay nasa kamay na po ‘yan ng Office of the Ombudsman,” she explained.

(Whatever the Office of the Ombudsman has investigated regarding the ‘maleta boys,’ in relation to former Speaker Romualdez and others who are accused, is already in the hands of the Office of the Ombudsman.)

The Palace official also clarified that she is only speaking on behalf of Marcos, and not of others implicated in the controversy.

She also advised the public not to fall for such schemes just for money.

“Kaya sa mga kababayan natin ay huwag magpabitag sa ganitong plano para lang sa pera dahil may mga taong inosente ang inyong sisirain,” Castro said.

(I urge the public not to fall for such schemes driven merely by money because you could end up ruining the lives of innocent people.)—LDF, GMA News