NBI: Retired general recruited ‘ex-Marines’ as Co’s ‘security aides’
MANILA, Philippines — A retired general was identified as the person who recruited 103 individuals, including 18 alleged former Marines, to be “security aides” of former Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Elizaldy Co, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag said on Wednesday.
“There is a retired general who recruited them, and we have already identified the retired general who recruited all 103 of them,” Matibag, speaking in Filipino, said in an interview at the NBI headquarters in Pasay City.
READ: Lawyer says he notarized ‘18 ex-Marines’ affidavit for free
He did not name the retired general but noted that he belongs to the Class of 1975 of the Philippine Military Academy.
The NBI director said the agency may also subpoena the retired general to shed light on the investigation.
According to Matibag, they received information that the alleged security aides were supposed to be employed for two years, but “it was cut short because Zaldy Co has already disappeared.”
“So these bodyguards, including the retired alleged Marines, haven’t received their salaries and have lost their jobs,” he said.
“That’s what I explained as an angle—that these people have no livelihood. It seems their consent to make statements may have been given because they need compensation. We are also ensuring that there is no bribery or intimidation involved in providing their testimony or affidavits,” he added.
Matibag earlier reported that 103 individuals were recruited to serve as Co’s alleged “bagmen,” 38 of whom, including the 18 supposed former Marines, accepted the role.
READ: NBI: Up to 38 may testify as alleged ‘bagmen’ of Zaldy Co
Last week, the NBI issued subpoenas to around 25 individuals, including the 18 alleged former Marines, their counsel Levito Baligod, and former congressman Mike Defensor.
They are expected to appear on Thursday.
Matibag also said that an individual appeared at the NBI last Friday to comply with a subpoena and revealed that he—not Co—was the one served by eight of the 18 alleged former Marines.
READ: 8 of 18 ‘ex-Marines’ not assigned to Zaldy Co — NBI
Matibag: Contempt order possible
When asked what will happen if the 18 alleged former Marines do not comply with the subpoena, Matibag said the NBI may recommend to the Office of the Ombudsman the issuance of a contempt order against them.
“We will coordinate with the Office of the Ombudsman because we are deputized. So we will probably recommend that the contempt power needs to be exercised, or we may determine to send another subpoena. The problem is, we no longer know where they went. Although the address given is the office of Atty. Baligod,” he said.
“We can also go to court. Because under the rules of court, if you have subpoena power, we can go to court to request a contempt order for those who did not comply with the subpoena,” he added.
The subpoenas stem from a February 24 press conference in which Baligod introduced the 18 individuals as former Marines who claimed they had served as “bagmen” for Co and delivered P805 billion in alleged kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects.
Baligod also alleged that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. masterminded the scheme and claimed the funds were distributed to several other personalities, including former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Co.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro recently dismissed the allegations as a “lousy script” and “not award-worthy,” saying they were merely part of a smear campaign against the president. /mcm /gsg
