FOUR out of the 18 individuals who identified themselves as former security personnel of ex-Representative Zaldy Co have formally retracted their allegations that they delivered suitcases filled with money to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and former House speaker Martin Romualdez.
The group, previously referred to publicly as the “Maleta Boys,” made the recantation official in new sworn statements filed on Friday, August 7, 2026.
The four men admitted that their original joint affidavit and the explosive claims it contained were not true. They explained that they had been promised financial assistance in exchange for signing the earlier document, which alleged that they personally transported suitcases of cash to the highest officials in the land. With their retraction, the core of the accusation has now been disavowed by nearly a quarter of the original group that came forward.
The recantation follows weeks of scrutiny surrounding the credibility and motives of the 18 men, who surfaced in February 2026 to make their allegations public. Their original statements were presented alongside supporting documents and drew widespread attention, casting a political shadow over the figures named. The withdrawal by four of the accusers raises fresh questions about the reliability of the entire set of claims and what evidence actually supports them.
It remains unclear whether the remaining 14 individuals will also reconsider their statements or stand by their original testimony. Legal experts note that recantations do not automatically invalidate all allegations, but they do significantly weaken the strength of the evidence and the credibility of the source. Authorities are expected to evaluate both the original affidavits and the new retractions as the investigation proceeds.
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