NBI’s Matibag: Co’s 18 ex-bodyguards interviewed

MANILA, Philippines — National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag said that while they interviewed the 18 former bodyguards of ex-Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co, only five signed their testimonies, as their legal counsel, Levito Baligod, allegedly wanted to destroy the documents.

Matibag made the claim during the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on Monday, after being asked by acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian if the 18 former bodyguards, who claim to be ex-Marine officers, were interviewed by the NBI.

The NBI chief said they issued subpoenas, and persons linked to the 18 bodyguards, including Bishop Efraim Tendero and former lawmaker Mike Defensor, denied giving statements. Matibag said they were given another chance, and agents were able to interview the 18 bodyguards.

However, when they were asked to sign their testimonies, only five signed, as Baligod wanted to review the documents first. When Baligod was not allowed, Matibag said the lawyer wanted to tear up the documents.

“The 13 others were stopped by Atty. Baligod from signing as he wanted to review first the statements made by them; there was even an incident where Atty. Baligod wanted to tear up the testimonies of the 18 bodyguards, which we did not allow,” Matibag said in Filipino.

READ: Bishop who stood as witness in ‘ex-Marines’ affidavit no-show at NBI

Gatchalian asked how the NBI viewed the testimonies of the 18 ex-bodyguards.

Matibag said only 10 to 20 percent of the testimonies were true and involved factual matters—that they were former employees of Co and that they were assigned to load suitcases into vans.

However, when asked whether they knew what was inside the suitcases, Matibag said several of the bodyguards admitted they had no idea.

“What’s difficult is that of the 10 percent that was true, these are facts such as being former employees of Zaldy Co, that they were assigned to different people, that some of them are former Marines, and that they know some of the people—these things are true,” Matibag said in Filipino.

“But the allegation itself that a crime happened, that they delivered cash, which they should directly know, they do not know whether the suitcases actually contained cash,” he added.

The NBI chief cited the case of Gil Navidad, who admitted to the NBI that he was not the one who delivered suitcases and cash.

“One of the signatories, Gil Navidad, one of the 18, he was asked because there was an allegation that he was among those who delivered. He was asked in a one-on-one interview, during the delivery of the suitcases, whether he drove all of these or whether someone else drove them, because he provided a plate number,” Matibag said in Filipino.

“The plate numbers are true. Then he was asked, regarding the delivery of suitcases allegedly containing cash, which of the suitcases did you personally deliver? His answer was none; he was only a driver, and Mark Ticsay and Paul Estrada were the ones who personally delivered the suitcases to their intended recipients,” he added.

Last Thursday, the group led by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano pushed through with their blue ribbon committee hearing despite all positions being declared vacant and new Senate officials being elected a day earlier.

During the discussions, the 18 former bodyguards testified and reiterated several of their allegations contained in an affidavit released last February 25.

They claimed that they used to work for Co, who previously headed the House of Representatives’ committee on appropriations.

According to the 18 individuals, they were tasked by Co to deliver suitcases allegedly filled with cash to different individuals, including several House members.

However, observers were quick to point out alleged inconsistencies and changes in their testimony last Thursday compared to their original affidavit in February. One issue raised was the sudden inclusion of Palawan Rep. Jose Alvarez as a recipient of the alleged suitcases.

Alvarez rushed to the Senate on Thursday to confront the 18 men, saying he did not receive any suitcase with cash.

When asked why he was suddenly included in the list of lawmakers allegedly receiving money from Co, Alvarez said it may have been due to his refusal to endorse an impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

According to the lawmaker, a certain Margarette—who claimed to represent Defensor—texted him and sent a copy of the complaint against Marcos. When asked if he would endorse the complaint, Alvarez said he flatly refused the request.

READ: Alvarez on 18 Marines’ claims: Payback for not backing Marcos ouster?

Other lawmakers have also denied the allegations. According to Deputy Speaker Janette Garin, some sectors have been using the Senate as a political theater weeks before the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Garin disputed the allegations that she and other lawmakers received any suitcase from Co, urging the public to be “vigilant and discerning” as the current political climate has led to the proliferation of “gross propaganda and public deception.”

READ: House leaders say Senate being used as political theater

Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V also noted that the blue ribbon committee’s hearing last Thursday was merely staged to discredit the House before Duterte’s impeachment trial even begins.

He said most of the names mentioned have links to the House prosecution team, even though the lawmakers have repeatedly denied receiving any money. /mcm