THE retraction made by four of the 18 so-called “maleta boys” proves that their original statements were fabricated, the prosecution impeachment witness and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag said Saturday.
He told Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City that the four, who have taken back their accusations against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and former speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, are now telling a different story.
In a television interview, the four men, who concealed their faces and identities, were promised money in exchange for their original testimonies with 14 other colleagues.
They said they did not personally prepare their affidavits with other colleagues and that they only agreed to it after they were promised financial assistance.
“Maleta boys” is a reference to 18 former aides of ex-Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co who claimed to have delivered flood control project kickbacks to scores of lawmakers and other officials.
“Sinabi nila ngayon na ganun yung ginawa,” Matibag said, referring to the four.
He said the retraction is consistent with the findings of the NBI, which investigated the former Co aides, that they were coached into making the allegations in their joint affidavit.
“It is consistent with our findings, dahil nung November pa lang, kasama na ito sila Atty. (Levito) Baligod at Mike Defensor (a former congressman) hanggang nung February, at lumalabas mukhang tinuruan ng gagawin na istorya,” he said.
“So ngayon na binabawi ‘yan. I think it bolsters the position o NBI, the findings of the NBI based on our investigation na unreliable witnesses,” he added.
For his part, Dino de Leon, one of the lawyers of former justice secretary-turned-Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, told the same forum that the allegations of the “maleta boys” are reminiscent of the trumped-up charges filed against his client during the Duterte administration.
“So ang malinaw ay itong mga supposedly ex-Marines na hindi naman, nagpagamit, unreliable, ngayon ay nagwi-withdraw na at again, nakita na natin ang pattern of manufactured evidence, tatak duterte ito,” he said.
He noted that the Department of Justice has filed perjury and cyberlibel charges against the “Maleta Boys” and the court, finding probable cause, has ordered their arrest.
“So it only bolsters the fact na unreliable, nakita na rin ng korte, enough for the court to issue a warrant of arrest, nakita na rin ng Department of Justice and prima facie evidence yan with a reasonable certainty of conviction,” he added.
metrosundaily
