IMPEACHMENT endorser and House Committee on Human Rights Chair Bienvenido “Benny” M. Abante Jr. on Saturday challenged four members of the so-called “Maleta Boys” who recanted their previous sworn statements to identify the persons allegedly behind the preparation of affidavits they now claim were fabricated, and to present evidence against those responsible.
Abante said the recantations raise serious questions that must be answered, particularly after the four alleged that they had been pressured, threatened, or induced into signing prepared affidavits.
“Ang hinihingi natin ay simple: buong katotohanan. Kung fabricated ang mga affidavit, sino ang nag-fabricate? Kung scripted, sino ang gumawa ng script? Kung may mastermind, pangalanan at patunayan,” Abante said.
According to reports, Rosebert Macasasa Waupan, Cecilio Serafica Larroder Jr., Benny Bulontate and Bernard Tube — who identified themselves as former bodyguards of former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co — executed separate affidavits withdrawing statements they had previously submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman.
Their previous sworn statements contained allegations against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Co, and several other political personalities.
In their recantations, the four alleged that they had been pressured, threatened or induced into signing prepared affidavits. They also claimed that lawyer Levito Baligod was among those who allegedly directed their activities and coached them on their public statements.
Abante said that if the four are now asserting that their earlier sworn statements were fabricated, they have a responsibility to fully disclose how the affidavits came about, who allegedly conceived and prepared them, and what evidence supports their new claims.
“Ngayong sinasabi mismo ng apat na gawa-gawa ang kanilang mga naunang salaysay, hindi puwedeng hanggang pagbawi na lamang. Sabihin nila ang buong katotohanan. Sino ang nagplano nito? Sino ang naghanda ng mga affidavit? Sino ang nag-utos? At ano ang pakay?” Abante asked.
“If they are now saying that their previous affidavits were fabricated, then they have a responsibility to identify the people behind them. Name names, tell the whole story, and present the evidence,” he added.
Abante stressed that a recantation by itself does not settle the issue of what is true or false. He said the new allegations of fabrication, coercion and inducement must likewise be subjected to scrutiny and supported by evidence.
“Hindi sapat na sabihing fabricated ang affidavit. Kung may nagdikta, nagturo, nag-pressure o nag-utos sa kanila, pangalanan nila. Kung may ebidensya sila, ilabas nila. The truth cannot depend on which affidavit happens to be the latest one,” Abante said.
The Manila lawmaker said determining the circumstances behind the execution of the original affidavits is necessary not only to establish the truth, but also to hold accountable anyone who may have deliberately manufactured sworn statements to falsely implicate public officials.
Abante said the allegations now being disowned also appeared calculated to discredit lawmakers and personalities involved in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.
“Hindi lang pangalan ng mga mambabatas ang sinira ng mga alegasyong ito. Siniraan din ang kredibilidad ng mga prosecutor at mga nagsusulong na panagutin si Vice President Sara Duterte,” Abante said.
“Kung fabricated ang mga affidavit, dapat malaman kung sino ang nasa likod nito at kung ano ang tunay na pakay. Hindi puwedeng gumawa ng kuwento, manira ng pangalan, at pagkatapos ay walang mananagot,” he added.
Abante, one of the endorsers of the impeachment complaint against Duterte, earlier filed libel and cyberlibel complaints against Baligod and 18 former bodyguards after he was implicated in allegations involving supposed deliveries of cash-filled luggage.
“From the beginning, I maintained that the accusations against me were false and baseless. I went to court to defend my name. Now that some of them are withdrawing their statements, the public deserves to know how these allegations came about and who was behind them,” Abante said.
“This is no longer just about recanting an affidavit. The bigger question is whether there were people behind the preparation and circulation of statements that the affiants themselves are now disowning,” he added.
“Hindi maaaring may mga taong pagbibintangan at sisiraan sa publiko, tapos kapag binawi ang salaysay ay doon na matatapos ang usapan. Kailangang malaman ang buong katotohanan at managot ang sinumang mapatutunayang responsable,” Abante said.
House trial spokesperson and impeachment adviser Ace Barbers on Friday similarly challenged the former bodyguards to identify the people they claim orchestrated the sworn statements they have since withdrawn, saying those responsible should be held accountable.
The four also named former Rep. Mike Defensor and Sen. Rodante Marcoleta as among the personalities who, they claimed, had assured them of legal or political support.
Meanwhile, Jeron Gaveria Balderama, who also executed an affidavit, did not recant any previous testimony. Instead, he stated that he was not a member of the group described as the “18 Marines,” had no personal knowledge of the accusations contained in the group’s affidavits, and had never witnessed the alleged delivery of money, suitcases or paper bags.
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