10 'Maleta Boys' Released After Posting Bail

Ten former bodyguards of ex-lawmaker Zaldy Co, known as the 'maleta boys,' were released on Saturday after posting bail, having been arrested and detained on charges of perjury. They had previously implicated various high-ranking officials in a flood control corruption scheme. The bodyguards were seen exiting the Las Piñas City Police Station. Their counsel, Levito Baligod, announced on Facebook that bail had been successfully posted, thanking the Saturday court that processed their release. Originally, 18 former bodyguards had implicated several personalities in the alleged flood control corruption scheme. They claimed to have delivered bags of cash to different high-ranking officials, even naming President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. However, many of those implicated denied the allegations and filed perjury charges against the bodyguards. Each bodyguard faced at least four counts of perjury, with individual bail set at P72,000. Of the 18, at least 10 were arrested on Friday for failing to post bail. Meanwhile, three others had successfully posted bail on time, averting arrest. Notably, four of the bodyguards who made the initial accusations have since recanted their testimonies. This case highlights ongoing issues of corruption allegations and the complexities surrounding witness testimonies and judicial processes in the Philippines. Source: GMA News Philippines