MANILA — Sen. Erwin Tulfo said Friday the reported recantation of four alleged former bodyguards of former lawmaker Zaldy Co did not come as a surprise to him.
Tulfo was among the personalities the group accused of receiving cash from Co. In response, he filed multiple grave oral defamation complaints against several of the individuals who claimed to have delivered suitcases filled with money to politicians.
Speaking to reporters after meeting with Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Jemulla Remulla and Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, Tulfo said he had expected the recantation, insisting the allegations against him were fabricated from the start.
“Expected ko na ho 'yun na magre-recant po sila because from the very start, alam naman ho ng lahat ng tao na those stories that they're making up... Then suddenly, aatras po sila. Paano ho 'yun?” he said.
The lawmaker said he believed the individuals who recanted could have been overcome by guilt after seeing that many of those they implicated had filed cases against them.
“Siguro po, nakonsensya din ho siguro. Dahil nakita nila, kung talagang totoo ‘yung sinasabi nila, hindi siguro ganun kadaming demanda ang aabutin nila. Halos lahat ng binanggit nila, nagdemanda, including myself,” he said.
Tulfo also claimed the alleged former bodyguards have repeatedly failed to appear before the Pasay prosecutors' office, where he filed his complaints against them.
“Just to clarify, 'yung finile ho namin sa Pasay, hindi po sila nag-a-appear. Ilang beses na po silang sinubpoena ng Pasay Fiscal's Office. Nobody's appearing,” he said.
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