Four of the 18 so-called “maleta boys” recant parts of their earlier statements, prompting a public interest lawyer to argue that the development shows a broader pattern in prior cases. Speaking at a News Forum in Quezon City, Atty. Dino de Leon said the recantations reinforce concerns that evidence and witness testimony may have been unreliable or manufactured.
De Leon links the current situation to what he says is a Duterte-era approach used in cases involving political targets. He cited the example of cases filed against former senator and now Mamayang Liberal Representative Leila de Lima during the administration of then-President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, saying similar issues were seen then.
The articles focus on the lawyer’s interpretation of the recantations rather than providing details of the underlying case allegations or the reasons the witnesses retract their claims. Both sources present the recantation as the key event, with the disagreement—if any—centered on the implications drawn from it rather than the fact that the witnesses are recanting.
