Two of the men who once swore they hauled luggage stuffed with cash into Senator Loren Legarda’s home have backed away from that account, their counsel Levito Baligod confirmed on Monday.
According to Baligod, the so-called “ex-bagmen” conceded they were wrong in asserting that the senator from Antique took delivery of two suitcases of money tied to former Representative Zaldy Co. He said the pair never actually carried the luggage into Legarda’s residence, contrary to what they had stated earlier.
The men were among 18 individuals — presented publicly in February as former Marines who served as security aides and bagmen for Co — who alleged in a joint affidavit that they ferried suitcases of cash to dozens of officials. The bundle of accusations, linked to the multibillion-peso flood control corruption controversy, named Legarda alongside a string of senators and congressmen. The Philippine Navy has since disputed the group’s military credentials, saying four were never Marines and most of the rest were dishonorably discharged, and the Armed Forces has urged outlets to stop calling them “ex-Marines.”
Despite the about-face on Legarda, no amended affidavit reflecting the correction has reached the Office of the Ombudsman, where the original sworn statement remains on file.
Baligod indicated Legarda could pursue a perjury case against the two men over the earlier allegation.
This is not the first reversal to dog the affidavit. In late February, Baligod admitted an “oversight” in including former senator Leila de Lima among the supposed recipients, and several officials — including National Security Adviser Eduardo Año and Iloilo lawmakers — have already filed cyberlibel and perjury complaints against Baligod and the group.
