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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Matibag: Retraction of 4 'Maleta Boys' validates initial NBI findings of fabricated allegations

Matibag: Retraction of 4 'Maleta Boys' validates initial NBI findings of fabricated allegations

Published Aug 8, 2026 05:30 pm
The retraction made by four of the so-called “Maleta Boys” validated the initial findings of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that they were coached into making the allegations on delivery of millions of pesos to President Marcos and other ranking government officials.
NBI director Melvin Matibag said they already suspected that the allegations of the 18 “Maleta Boys” were fabricated as early as November last year when they looked into their claims that they delivered money to Marcos, then House speaker Martin Romualdez and other ranking government officials.
“Maleta boys” is a reference to 18 former aides of ex-Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co who claimed to have delivered flood control project kickbacks to scores of lawmakers and other officials.
Four of them earlier retracted their statements after they were promised money in exchange for their original testimonies.
“Now that there is already a retraction, I think it bolsters the position of the NBI, the findings of the NBI based on our investigation that they are unreliable witnesses,” said Matibag in a news forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.
For his part, Dino de Leon, one of the lawyers of former justice secretary-turned-Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, told the same forum that the allegations of the “Maleta Boys” are reminiscent of the trumped-up charges filed against his client during the Duterte administration.
“What is clear now that they withdrew their statement is that they were used, that they are unreliable. And again, we are seeing a pattern of manufactured evidence,” said De Leon.
He noted that the Department of Justice has filed perjury and cyberlibel charges against the “maleta boys” and the court, finding probable cause, has ordered their arrest.
“The court already saw this—enough for the court to issue a warrant of arrest. The Department of Justice also saw this, and that is prima facie evidence with a reasonable certainty of conviction,” said De Leon.

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