Año going after ‘bagmen’
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said he would file a case against those behind allegations that he was among several officials who received money placed in suitcases, paper bags or envelopes as part of a widespread corruption scheme in government.
Año assailed what he described as the “malicious, unsigned affidavit” of 18 individuals claiming to be former Marine personnel who served as “bagmen” in delivering billions of pesos to lawmakers, Cabinet members and President Marcos himself.
“I hope they fixed their script but my legal team is prepared. I will make sure that whoever claimed that will be jailed,” Año said in an interview on Thursday. “I will not allow anyone to smear my reputation that I protected for many, many years.”
In a separate statement, Año said his team will conduct its own investigation “to determine whether this malicious stunt—given its timing amid the ICC [International Criminal Court], the Edsa [People Power Revolution 40th] anniversary, and the planned “One Time Big Time” mass action—is seemingly part of a broader effort to undermine or destabilize government institutions.”
Año, who has served in various posts, including as Armed Forces chief under former President Rodrigo Duterte, is mentioned in the affidavit as having received a paper bag following a meeting in a townhouse in Forbes Park, Makati City, with former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, former Speaker Martin Romualdez and Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima.
He said he never attended any meeting with any of them.
The group behind the affidavit said they worked as security personnel for Co, a central figure in the flood control corruption scandal that has rocked the Marcos administration.
The Philippine Navy clarified that four of the 18 alleged bagmen were “never members of the Philippine Navy or the Philippine Marine Corps” while majority of them were discharged dishonorably.
Lone witness
Also on Friday, evangelical leader Bishop Efraim Tendero, who signed the joint affidavit as a “witness,” said he cannot attest to the document’s accuracy.
“I only confirm the signing process was legitimate,” Tendero, who is currently in the United States, said in a Facebook post on Friday morning (Manila time).
Tendero, who once headed the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), said he was “requested” to be a witness before a notary public two days before he flew to the US for some conferences.
He said he did not know the group personally and that they reached out to him in his capacity as a “religious leader who champions the call for transparency, accountability and integrity in governance.”
“The responsibility for the veracity of the document’s content lies with those who gave their sworn statements,” he said.
The affidavit showed that Tendero was the only signatory as witness, with the following titles: ambassador of WEA, former national director of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches and former secretary general of WEA.
“However, I recognize that I can’t dissociate my person from my public positions, and for that, I humbly apologize for any misunderstanding my action may have caused,” he said.
The affidavit was transmitted to the Ombudsman on Thursday by lawyer Levito Baligod, representing the 18 individuals, who asked the antigraft agency to investigate the personalities mentioned for possible violations of the antigraft law and the code of conduct for public officials and employees.
