MANILA — Ten of the so-called “maleta boys” were arrested by the Las Piñas City Police on Friday after failing to post bail for four counts of perjury.
The 18 are alleged ex-bodyguards of fugitive former congressman Zaldy Co who supposedly delivered suitcases containing money to different personalities.
Their counsel, Atty. Levito Baligod, confirmed that four recanted.
Of the remaining 14, only 13 went to the Las Piñas Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 202 on Friday morning to post bail. One was in the province attending to the death of a loved one.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Teoson Rosarito, Assistant Chief of Police for Operations of Las Piñas, the 10 did not finish paying bail at the bank which was only open until 3 p.m.
They were arrested and brought to the Las Piñas PNP Headquarters beside the RTC.
Rommel Bobares, Johnny Buduan, and Rodante Orbillio were given temporary freedom after successfully posting bail.
The perjury cases, according to Baligod’s staff, were filed by ML Party List Representative Leila de Lima, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, former National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, and Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr.
Walter Manalansan, one of those arrested, said they are on the side of truth and alleged that they were offered P20 million to P25 million a month ago to recant. He refused to say who made the offer.
“Inofferan po kami, malaking halaga po, para bumaligtad,” said Manalansan. “Apat ang pumatos sa malaking halaga na ‘yun. Kami dahil may prinsipyo kami ipaglalaban namin ito para sa bayan. Nasa katotohanan po kami.”
“Sumama po kami kay Atty. Baligod kasi naniniwala po kami sa kanya. Yung sinasabi nilang ipinangako niya, hindi po totoo yun,” he added.
Baligod, who left the RTC around 2:30 p.m., arrived at the police station past 6:30 p.m. to see what legal remedies could be done.