AUTHORITIES have arrested 10 out of the 13 remaining individuals known publicly as the “Maleta Boys” after they reportedly failed to post bail for four counts of perjury filed against them.
The group gained national attention earlier this year when they surfaced to accuse high-ranking officials — including President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and former House speaker Martin Romualdez — of receiving suitcases full of cash. Their original sworn statements formed the basis of explosive bribery allegations that have since been thrown into doubt by subsequent recantations from four members of the group.
The arrests follow a legal determination that the men could not meet the bail requirements set by the court, leading to their immediate detention.
Perjury charges stem from suspicions that portions of their affidavits were deliberately fabricated or misleading, a concern amplified after four of their colleagues formally retracted their statements and admitted they had been promised financial assistance in exchange for signing the original documents. The recantations cast serious doubt on the credibility of the entire group’s testimony.
The development marks a significant turn in the controversial case, shifting the focus from the allegations themselves to the veracity of the accusers.
With four having recanted and 10 now arrested, the status of the remaining three individuals remains uncertain. The case continues to unfold amid conflicting claims, with authorities working to establish the full truth behind the sworn statements and the circumstances surrounding how and why they were made.
metrosundaily
