One of ‘maleta boys’ claims P20M–P25M offered to recant statements

MANILA, Philippines — One of the 18 “maleta boys”—alleged former bodyguards of ex-Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co—said on Friday that they were offered P20 million to P25 million to make them recant their affidavit that implicate top government officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, in flood control corruption.

George Villanon Jr., speaking during an ambush interview on Friday, made the statement shortly after four of his peers signed recantation affidavits. In those interviews, the four admitted that the claims made in their original joint affidavit were false.

READ: Trillanes to drop case vs four of 18 ‘maleta boys’

“Meron pong ino-offer sa amin para bumaliktad,” he told reporters.

(They are offering us something to turn around.)

When asked the amount, he said “P20 to 25 million per person.”

But he did not name who allegedly offered them the money.\

Maleta boys remain steadfast

Villanon emphasized that it is not true that other “maleta boys” also wanted to recant their affidavit, saying that “we remain steadfast in standing by the truth of our statements.”

“Ang masasabi ko lang sa kasama ko, sana naisipan ninyo nang mabuti ‘yung sinasabi ninyo. Retired ka na Marines pero ano ang ginawa mo? Nagpadala ka sa pera,” Villanon addressed to his colleagues.

(All I can say to my colleagues are, I hope you carefully considered what you were doing. You are a retired Marine, yet what did you do? You let yourself be swayed by money.)

“Sana naisipan mong maigi yung kasama mo na nahikayat mo silang tatlo, na kayo ang nag-usap-usap na bumaligtad kayo,” he added.

(I hope you gave serious thought to the three people you persuaded—the ones you conspired with to flip sides.)

Lawyer Levito Baligod, the counsel of 18 “maleta boys,” in a separate interview this Friday, denied the four “maleta boys” statement saying that he was making money off his clients to create the joint affidavit.

It was in February when Baligod first introduced the 18 individuals as former Marines, who claimed to have served as “bagmen” of Co in delivering P805 billion in purported kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects. /jpv

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