Ex-Zaldy Co bodyguards who recanted may face charges — Clavano

The four former bodyguards of ex-Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co who recanted their allegations linking several personalities to the flood control mess are likely to face criminal charges, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said Tuesday.

Clavano was referring to the bodyguards who alleged that they delivered suitcases containing money from kickbacks on government flood control projects to perceived project proponents, including former Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and Co.

They later recanted their allegations, saying they were forced to make the claims after being promised financial security for their families.

“There are indications that the panel of investigators may implead as part of the plunder charge the former security escorts of Zaldy Co, four of whom recently allegedly recanted their earlier statement implicating the former Speaker and Co and other officials in the alleged cash deliveries at the heart of this case,” Clavano said at a press conference.

He noted that the investigators had yet to officially receive the bodyguards’ recantations, even though copies had already been submitted to the Ombudsman as attachments to Romualdez’s counter-affidavit.

“Interestingly, the panel of investigators has not yet received an official copy of the recantations of the former bodyguards. The supposed recantations were, however, already attached to the counter-affidavit submitted by the former Speaker,” Clavano added.

“So if we were to follow the standard procedure, they would also have to furnish a copy to the Office of the Ombudsman, specifically addressed to the panel of investigators handling the case so that the investigators would be appraised of the fact that they already recanted,” he pointed out.

Clavano also downplayed the recantations of the four former bodyguards, saying they were mere "say-so."

“The recantation is too general. They are not able to recant each salient point of their earlier affidavit [submitted to the Ombudsman], the affidavit that is very much detailed,” Clavano said.

“Besides, their recantation is only two pages. That is something that we know the courts will frown upon because it is not an accepted practice or it is something that the courts have to take and judicial notice. Their recantation will only bolster our position that among these affidavits, the first affidavit is the one telling the truth,” Clavano added.

Romualdez is facing complaints for plunder, graft, direct bribery and money laundering before the Office of the Ombudsman over his alleged links to the flood control mess.

The former House speaker has repeatedly denied the allegations and accused the Ombudsman of being prejudiced against him.

Clavano said Romualdez had already filed his counter-affidavit on Aug. 7, but the former Speaker had asked the Ombudsman’s panel of prosecutors for an extension to file a supplemental counter-affidavit.

“We are currently awaiting the panel's ruling on whether to grant whether they will grant the defense additional time to file such pleading,” he said. — MCG, GMA News