Co bodyguard bares P20-M bribe offer

One of 18 former bodyguards arrested Friday claimed they were offered between P20 million and P25 million to recant their statements implicating President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., former Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, former Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co and other personalities.

George Villanon Jr. also condemned four of his former colleagues for withdrawing their statements, alleging that they had been swayed by money.

“All I can say to my colleague is, I hope you thought carefully about what you were saying. You’re a retired Marine, but what did you do? You allowed yourself to be swayed by money,” Villanon told reporters as he posted bail before a Las Piñas court.

“I wish you had thought carefully about the three others you persuaded — the four of you talked among yourselves and decided to switch sides,” he added.

Pressed on how much they were allegedly offered to recant their statements, Villanon replied: “P20 million to P25 million.”

Among the supposed bagmen of Co, 10 were arrested in Las Piñas after failing to post bail on a perjury complaint led by Mamamayang Liberal Partylist Rep. Leila de Lima and former senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes.

Through a Facebook post, the bodyguards’ lawyer, Atty. Levito Baligod took to social media to call for help, stating that his “Brave 14” were unable to process bail at a court and would be detained over the weekend, where their bail could not be processed.

Each bodyguard was charged with four counts of perjury, pushing their bail to a total amount of P72,000 per individual.

The complaints stemmed from claims that they had supposedly delivered cash-filled luggage to public figures such as De Lima, Trillanes and even President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., which Co supposedly orchestrated.

4 recanted

Notably, four out of the 18 individuals have since recanted their statements, citing threats to their lives and supposed bribery from public officials to flip sides in the multibillion-peso issue.

Testimonies from three out of the four individuals who withdrew their statements were used as evidence under the Office of the Ombudsman in its case against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla was quoted on Friday, alleging that Romualdez organized the withdrawal of the affidavits in a supposed attempt to weaken the case being built against him.

The solon has since denied the claims, asserting that the investigative body was prejudiced against him.