A lawyer representing 18 former security personnel, colloquially known as “maleta boys,” has officially retracted allegations linking Senator Loren Legarda to supposed cash deliveries, admitting there is no evidence to support her involvement.
During a press conference on Monday, Atty. Levito Baligod revealed that a internal review conducted in March yielded zero basis to connect Legarda to the controversy. This prompted his camp to formally backtrack on their previous assertions.
Baligod also expressed openness to any legal steps the lawmaker might pursue following the retraction.
“And I will let Senator Loren take whatever legal action she deems proper to vindicate herself also,” Baligod said.
The clarification regarding Legarda’s involvement emerged during a June 4 Senate blue ribbon committee hearing. Observers noted that an affidavit filed by the group—who claim to be former bodyguards of former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co—only named Senators Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Erwin Tulfo. This contradicted earlier claims that had implicated Legarda, as well as Senators Mark and Camille Villar.
In their affidavit, the individuals alleged that they were ordered to deliver massive sums of cash to several high-profile officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
However, the credibility of the claims faced scrutiny after the Armed Forces of the Philippines clarified that the 18 individuals were no longer in active military service during the timeframe of the alleged flood control scandal.