Lawyer: Maleta Boys recantations echo Duterte-era manufactured evidence
MANILA, Philippines — The recent recantation of four “maleta boys” mirrors a Duterte-era pattern of using unreliable witnesses and manufactured evidence to target political figures, according to a public interest lawyer.
“It is a clear pattern of manufacturing evidence that we have seen before,” Atty. Dino de Leon said during the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.
De Leon said the same pattern was seen in the cases filed against former senator and now Mamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima during the administration of then – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
READ: ‘Greatest frame-up’ unraveling – De Lima lawyer
“Nakita na namin ‘yan sa kaso ni Leila de Lima noong panahon ni Rodrigo Duterte. She was in jail for seven years,” he said.
“Congresswoman Leila de Lima is a victim of manufactured evidence,” he added.
De Leon said witnesses were allegedly pressured, rewarded or otherwise induced to fabricate accusations against personalities whom the previous administration wanted silenced.
“Ibig sabihin, ito ‘yung mga tao na incredible, nagpagamit, tinakot, nabigyan ng kung anong reward para mag-imbento ng kwento laban dito sa mga personalidad na ito, ultimately because they want them to be silenced,” he said.
Maleta boys
The 18 “maleta boys” had claimed to be former bodyguards of former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and alleged that they delivered suitcases containing money from anomalous flood control projects to several personalities.
Four have since recanted their statements.
De Leon is counsel for de Lima and Fr. Flavie Villanueva in a perjury case against the “maleta boys” over allegations they made against them.
The Department of Justice has filed perjury cases against the 18 men, and a Las Piñas court subsequently issued warrants for their arrest.
De Leon said the recantations further undermined the credibility of the group.
“Ang maliwanag ay itong mga supposedly ex-Marines na hindi naman Marines, na dishonorably discharged pa ng Armed Forces of the Philippines, nagpagamit, unreliable, ngayon ay nagwi-withdraw na,” he said.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines had earlier clarified that not all 18 were former Marines and that they were no longer in active military service when the acts they alleged supposedly occurred.
De Leon also questioned an allegation that de Lima received money from a supposed flood control anomaly, pointing out that she was not yet a member of the House during the period involved.
“Paano siya makikinabang sa supposed flood control scandal?” he said. / gsg
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