Ombudsman on recantation of ex-bodyguards in flood control mess: We still have many evidence and witnesses

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla maintained on Tuesday that their investigation on the flood control mess is not affected by the recent recantations of the alleged former bodyguards of ex-Ako Bicol Partylist lawmaker Zaldy Co.

"Our cases are not reliant on those witnesses who are recanting their testimonies. Marami pa kaming ibang ebidensya at testigo. Marami kaming hindi magre-recant, sigurado ako," he told reporters in a chance interview.

(Our cases are not reliant on those witnesses who are recanting their testimonies. We still have plenty of other evidence and witnesses. Many of ours will not recant, I am sure of that.)" he told reporters in a chance interview.)

Four of the former bodyguards of Co, including Orly Guteza, recently recanted their claims of making cash deliveries to former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Following the recantations, the Office of the Ombudsman said Thursday that it still has 28 witnesses who have material information on the alleged links of the former Speaker to the flood control mess.

Romualdez recently filed his supplemental counter-affidavit before the Ombudsman in response to the ongoing probe against him over his alleged link to the flood control mess.

"The case does not rise and fall with those guards or the people who brought the money. We have other evidence pa. But we can prove that pa rin," Remulla reiterated. —RF, GMA News