Four former security escorts of resigned lawmaker Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co may be included as respondents in the plunder complaint linked to the flood-control corruption scandal after they allegedly recanted their earlier statements on the supposed delivery of billions of pesos, the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) said.

Assistant Ombudsman Jose Dominic “Mico” Clavano IV said the panel of investigators was studying the possible inclusion of the four escorts in the plunder charge against former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Co, and other officials.

“For all intents and purposes, the investigators do plan to include them as part of the plunder charge dahil kung hindi sila magiging witness namin, then they are merely respondents in a crime where they delivered billions of pesos to the respondents in this case (For all intents and purposes, the investigators do plan to include them as part of the plunder charge because if they will no longer serve as our witnesses, then they are merely respondents in a crime where they delivered billions of pesos to the respondents in this case),” he said.

He clarified that the information came from the panel handling the preliminary investigation and that several factors would still have to be considered.

“Well, this is feedback from the panel of investigators. They are analyzing the situation, although we know na marami po tayong kailangan i-consider dito (Well, this is feedback from the panel of investigators. They are analyzing the situation, although we know that there are many factors we need to consider here),” he said.

The four escorts had previously executed affidavits alleging that Romualdez, Co, and other officials were involved in cash deliveries linked to anomalous flood-control projects.

Clavano said the investigators had not yet officially received copies of the escorts’ supposed recantations. However, the recantations were already attached to the counter-affidavit filed by Romualdez.

“Interestingly, the panel of investigators has not yet received an official copy of the recantations of the former bodyguards. The supposed recantations were, however, already attached to the counter-affidavit submitted by the former Speaker,” he said.

Clavano also confirmed that lawyer Levito Baligod had turned over a USB drive containing materials that allegedly showed the four escorts received some form of consideration for withdrawing their statements.

“Opo, tinurnover po niya ang isang USB containing pictures, videos, screenshots, and even video recordings to show na itong apat na ito ay may konsiderasyon sa pag-recant (Yes, he turned over a USB containing pictures, videos, screenshots, and even video recordings to show that these four received some form of consideration for recanting),” he said.

As such, he questioned the substance of the supposed recantations, saying they contained broad denials that did not directly address the details in the escorts’ original affidavits.

“And if you will notice, ‘yung lumabas po na recantation ay napaka-general ang denial. Hindi niya ni-recant ‘yung bawat punto ng affidavit nila dati. ‘Yung affidavit nila dati ay napakadetalyado (And if you will notice, the recantation that came out contained a very general denial. It did not recant every point in their previous affidavits. Their previous affidavits were very detailed),” said Clavano.

Meanwhile, the OMB said Romualdez filed his counter-affidavit on Aug. 7 in response to the complaints for plunder, graft, bribery, and money laundering filed against him in connection with the flood-control controversy.

The panel has since submitted its reply to the counter-affidavit, while a motion seeking additional time for Romualdez’s camp to file a supplemental counter-affidavit remains pending.

Clavano said the Ombudsman would continue pursuing accountability regardless of whether a case remained under preliminary investigation or had already reached the Sandiganbayan.

“No public official is above the law, and every peso spent on infrastructure meant to protect Filipino lives, especially flood control, must be accounted for,” he said.