House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos on Wednesday dismissed allegations made by the group dubbed the “Maleta Boys,” former bodyguards of former congressman Elizaldy Co, who claimed he was among those who allegedly received a suitcase filled with cash in connection with the flood control controversy.
Speaking during a special session, Marcos said the testimony of the individuals should no longer be given attention, describing them as “fake marines.”
The lawmaker noted that in the group’s latest account, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero was also allegedly included among those said to have received a suitcase.
According to Marcos, Escudero’s name surfaced in a new statement from the group after the senator attended a session of the New Majority Bloc on June 3.
That session resulted in the establishment of a quorum and eventually led to the vacancy of the Senate presidency.
Marcos questioned the credibility of the allegations, saying the list of individuals being linked to the supposed suitcase continued to change. He remarked that another person could be added to the story in the future.
Despite the accusations, Marcos said he has no plans to file a complaint against the former bodyguards, adding that pursuing legal action would not be worth the effort.
The House Majority Leader also maintained that cases connected to the flood control controversy continue to move through the Office of the Ombudsman.
He said more than 100 cases related to the issue remain under process nearly a year after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in his State of the Nation Address, publicly called for accountability over alleged irregularities involving flood control projects.
The allegations made by the former bodyguards remain unverified, while no court ruling has been issued regarding the claims mentioned in their statements.
The flood control controversy continues to draw public attention as investigations and related cases move forward.
