By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.
MANILA, Philippines — The 18 men who claimed to have served as “bagmen” of former Rep. Zaldy Co and delivered suitcases of cash to several government officials arrived at the Senate on Monday following the invitation of the Senate blue ribbon committee.
But they did not attend the “consultative meeting” held by the panel led by the bloc of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, the acting Senate President. Instead, the 18 men and their lawyer, Levito Baligod, went to the office of Sen. Robinhood Padilla, where they held a press conference.
Padilla told reporters it was up to his “guests,” whom he escorted inside the Senate premises, if they wanted to attend the meeting presided over by the panel’s newly installed chair, Sen. Erwin Tulfo.
The majority bloc senators expressed dismay at the absence of the 18 men, who had earlier claimed to be former Marine soldiers.
