MANILA, Philippines — Palace press officer Claire Castro on Friday accused supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte of using paid individuals to make false claims against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., citing the recantation of four of the 18 alleged “maleta boys.”
Castro made the accusation after the four men signed affidavits withdrawing their previous statements implicating Marcos, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and other government officials in alleged kickbacks from flood control projects.
“Nakikita naman natin ang style ng mga Duterte supporters kung paano sila mag-hire ng mga tao na gumawa ng kathang-isip na kwento kapalit ang malaking halaga laban sa Pangulo,” Castro said in a video posted on her YouTube account.
Castro said she was speaking only on behalf of Marcos and not other officials named in the allegations.
She also linked the developments to what she described as a possible destabilization effort involving former lawmaker Mike Defensor and his allies, without providing evidence to support the claim.
Castro urged the public not to be influenced by money or allow innocent people to become victims.
The recantations have triggered conflicting accusations among officials and lawyers involved in the case.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier accused Romualdez of being behind the recantation of three of the four men. Remulla said the withdrawals neither weakened nor strengthened the Ombudsman’s complaint against the former House speaker because investigators had other evidence.
Romualdez denied the allegation and accused Remulla of prejudice against him.
Meanwhile, lawyer Levito Baligod, who represents the 18 alleged “maleta boys,” denied profiting from their joint affidavit implicating government officials. He said he only promised to help them if they needed assistance.
Baligod also said the other 14 men became angry after learning about the recantations.
Police arrested 10 of the 14 men on Friday after they failed to post bail on four counts of perjury. Three others posted bail, while another remained in his province following the death of a loved one.
Castro said the Ombudsman should continue handling the investigation into the allegations against Romualdez and other officials.
The four men previously claimed that they delivered cash in suitcases to several government officials. Their recantations have since raised questions over the credibility of their earlier allegations and the circumstances surrounding the withdrawals.
