MANILA, Philippines — Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro on Friday accused supporters of the Duterte family and Mike Defensor of fabricating stories after some of the so-called “maleta boys” retracted their testimonies.
The statement comes after 4 of the Maleta boys said they were promised financial compensation for their earlier statement that they delivered luggages containing flood control kickback money to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
In a statement, Castro cautioned the public against falling for paid, fabricated stories intended to undermine the administration.
"We can see the style of Duterte supporters—how they hire people to fabricate stories against the President in exchange for large sums of money," Castro said in Filipino.
"Many feel that this is part of a destabilization plot by Mike Defensor and his associates,” she added.
Castro clarified that her mandate is solely to speak on behalf of Marcos, urging citizens not to participate in smear campaigns that ruin innocent lives for monetary gain.
Regarding Ombudsman inquiries into Romualdez and other individuals implicated in the issue, Castro stated that the matter now rests entirely with the anti-graft body.
"Whatever findings the Office of the Ombudsman has regarding the "Maleta Boys" are already in the hands of the Office of the Ombudsman," she added.
