OMBUDSMAN Jesus Crispin Remulla alleged on Friday that Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez was the driving force behind the sudden recantation by four of former Representative Zaldy Co’s ex-bodyguards.
The four men had previously claimed they delivered suitcases of cash to Romualdez and other high-ranking officials, only to formally withdraw their allegations days later. Remulla did not hesitate to point to the former House speaker when asked who stood to gain from the retractions.
“Of course, who else? Who else stands to benefit from this?” Remulla told reporters during a press briefing on August 7. His blunt remark underscored the suspicion that the recantations were orchestrated to protect Romualdez from the serious bribery allegations leveled against him. The Ombudsman’s statement casts doubt on the credibility of the retractions, suggesting they were made not out of a change of heart, but due to outside influence.
The development adds yet another layer of intrigue to the explosive allegations that surfaced in February 2026. The original affidavits claimed that the group of former security personnel personally transported large sums of money to Romualdez and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., accusations that shook the political establishment. With four of the accusers now retracting their sworn statements, the question remains whether the original claims were fabricated from the start — or whether the retractions themselves are the result of pressure and political maneuvering.
metrosundaily
