The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) stated that statement retractions by four members of the “Maleta Boys” reinforce its findings that the group was instructed to invent claims regarding cash deliveries to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other top officials.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag noted that investigators harbored doubts about the group’s credibility as early as November, when the 18 individuals—claiming to be former security personnel for former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co—first alleged they delivered millions in cash to Marcos, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and other high-ranking figures.
Four group members have since recanted, revealing they were offered money to make the initial accusations.
“Now that there is already a retraction, I think it bolsters the position of the NBI, the findings of the NBI based on our investigation that they are unreliable witnesses,” Matibag said during a news forum in Quezon City.
At the same forum, Atty. Dino de Leon, legal counsel for Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Representative Leila de Lima, drew parallels between the group’s recanted allegations and the manufactured cases previously brought against De Lima under the Duterte administration.
“What is clear now that they withdrew their statement is that they were used, that they are unreliable. And again, we are seeing a pattern of manufactured evidence,” De Leon stated.
De Leon highlighted that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged members of the group with perjury and cyberlibel, leading the court to issue arrest warrants after finding probable cause.
“The court already saw this—enough for the court to issue a warrant of arrest. The Department of Justice also saw this, and that is prima facie evidence with a reasonable certainty of conviction,” De Leon added.