POLICE authorities arrested 10 former military personnel, known as part of the “Maleta Boys,” inside the Las Piñas Hall of Justice on Friday afternoon after they failed to process their bail before court operating hours ended.
The arrests stemmed from warrants issued on August 3 by Presiding Judge Kathryn S. Sabado of Regional Trial Court Branch 202 in Las Piñas City.
The 10 individuals face four counts of perjury under Criminal Case Nos. 26-0831 to 34, with bail set at ₱18,000 per count.
Operatives from the Las Piñas City Police Station, led by Chief of Police PCol. Fermin D. Armedarez III and guided by Southern Police District Director PBGen. Glenn Oliver C. Cinco, served the warrants at approximately 5:45 PM.
The accused—identified primarily by aliases including Reyneboy (47), Christopher (50), George (41), and seven others—had appeared at the court complex attempting to post bail.
However, because court processing was not completed prior to the official cutoff time, officers took them into custody. They remain held at the Las Piñas City Police Station custodial facility.
The 10 arrested are among 18 former bodyguards and staff of resigned congressman Zaldy Co who claimed they transported suitcases filled with kickback money from flood control projects to various political figures.
High-profile personalities named in their statements filed perjury counter-charges, including Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, former National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, and Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr.
Legal counsel Levito Baligod clarified that he represents 14 of the original 18 respondents, referred to as the “Brave 14,” after four comrades recanted their earlier affidavits implicating Co, former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, and other officials.
Following the recantations, Trillanes instructed his legal team to drop perjury charges against the four former soldiers, expressing sympathy for their situation.
“Because of their lack of livelihood, they were exploited by people with dark political motives,” Trillanes stated, adding he hopes the remaining respondents eventually realize the truth.
