Ex-bodyguard of Co testifies filming cash-filled luggage delivered to Romualdez

MANILA — A former bodyguard of fugitive ex-Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co told the Sandiganbayan on Monday that he filmed what he said was luggage full of cash at the residence of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

George Villalon Jr. gave the testimony during the first day of Romualdez’s bail hearings before the Sandiganbayan Third Division for his plunder charge over the alleged government infrastructure kickback scheme.

The prosecution played a 13-second video that it said showed several pieces of luggage in the living room of Romualdez’s residence on McKinley Road, Forbes Park, Makati City.

“Sala po ‘yan [ng bahay ni Romualdez]. Pagpasok ‘yan na po yung bungad niyan,” Villalon told the court.

Villalon said he took the video on Nov. 21, 2023, during the delivery of “more or less 20 pieces of luggage” from a condominium owned by Co at Horizon Homes in Taguig to the residence.

Villalon said he sent the video to his wife through Messenger after missing her call. The prosecution showed a screenshot of a message sent at 12:59 p.m. that day that read, “Puro pera laman niyan deliver kay Romualdez.”

Villalon said his wife, Edna Peralta Valderama, jokingly asked to keep one of the bags for herself.

“Akin na lang ’yong isa, magkapera man lang,” Valderama reportedly replied.

He denied editing the footage, which the court allowed to be presented despite objections from Romualdez’s lawyer Rashel Ann Pomoy.

Pomoy questioned the authenticity of the videos and argued that portions of Villalon’s judicial affidavit, including his statement identifying the house where they delivered the money as Romualdez’s, were hearsay.

To authenticate the messages with his wife containing videos and photos of the alleged delivery, Villalon logged in to his Messenger account in court and presented their conversations and the dates of their exchanges.

When asked by the court how he knew the suitcase contained money, Villalon said he saw it himself in the hallway of Co’s 56th-floor condominium at Horizon Homes, where Co’s aide, John Paul Estrada, was fixing a suitcase that would not close.

“Nakabukas ‘yong isang maleta. Inayos niya ‘yung isang maleta dahil di nagsara… pera po [ang laman],” Villalon said.

Villalon also said Co’s former bodyguards had a group chat named “The Spartans,” which had 18 members, including him.

He said tensions arose in the group after their team leader, Johnny Buduan, informed them that some members were reportedly planning to recant their statements. 

Buduan then told them to relax.

Villalon said he replied, “May hudas tayo na kasama. Relax?”

He identified the two as former bodyguards Rosebert Waupan and Benny Bulontate. 

The chat group has since been deleted, he said.

Meanwhile, Associate Justice Karl Miranda denied Romualdez’s bid to exclude the prosecution’s additional exhibits.

Pomoy had argued that the prosecution lacked “good cause” for introducing the evidence, which was not included in its initial pre-trial brief.

Miranda agreed with the prosecution’s argument that the additional exhibits could be admitted since the pre-trial order, which contains the list of evidence and witnesses, had not yet been signed.

The prosecution said its supplemental pre-trial brief includes certifications and/or documents from telecommunications companies and the National Telecommunications Commission to establish the authenticity of videos of the alleged delivery to Romualdez and communications among Co’s former bodyguards.

The prosecution also listed the following evidence:

• Commission on Audit reports on flood control projects
• Lists of projects submitted by former DPWH engineer Henry Alcantara for former congressman Zaldy Co
• Slides from DPWH’s budget presentations and documents on projects involving Romualdez and Co

Romualdez attended via videoconference and confirmed he was waiving his right to meet witnesses face-to-face. The court granted his request, in an Oct. 9 resolution, to sign the pre-trial order at the Quezon City Jail in Payatas.

Levito Baligod, counsel for Co’s former bodyguards, also attended the hearing.