‘Maleta Boys’ Out On Bail For Perjury Raps

The 10 alleged former security aides and bagmen of fugitive lawmaker Zaldy Co were released from police custody on Saturday, Aug. 8, after posting bail.

Las Piñas RTC Branch 200 went on overtime to issue the release orders for the 10 bagmen – also called “maleta boys” – after they paid P74,040 each for four counts of perjury or P18,510 per count.

The perjury cases were filed by ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, former national security adviser Eduardo Año and Bureau of Corrections chief Gregorio Catapang Jr.

The bagmen’s lawyer, Levi Baligod, accused the Las Piñas RTC of conducting an “irregular and unusual” process in settling his clients’ bail.

“They sat on the bail application (on Friday),” Baligod told reporters after the bagmen were released. 

Las Piñas police arrested the 10 late Friday afternoon, Aug. 7, after they failed to pay the bail before the court closed.

Placed under police custody overnight were Reyneboy Julian, Christopher Esquivel, George Villalon Jr., Gil Navidad Jr., Anselmo Taberdo, Joely Cadiao, Rommel Galapon, Bernard Gumban, Fidel Corpuz and Walter Manalansan.

He said the court required a certificate of detention and an affidavit of non-detention, even though the suspects voluntarily surrendered.

Baligod added that three notaries public refused to notarize documents after learning that they were dealing with the bagmen, supposedly citing fear of being called to the Senate in the future if ever problems with the documents arise.