Co’s ex-bodyguard testifies P1 billion in maletas delivered to Romualdez

MANILA — A former bodyguard of fugitive ex-Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co testified Thursday that some 100 suitcases containing about P1 billion were delivered to a residence of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez between 2023 and 2024.

Rodante Orbillo, Co’s ex-driver and security aide, made the claim on the third day of the Sandiganbayan Third Division’s bail hearing on Romualdez’s plunder case over alleged ill-gotten wealth from the government infrastructure kickback scheme. 

Orbillo said the suitcases were delivered from Co’s units in Horizon Homes, BGC Taguig and Valle Verde 6, Pasig City, to Romualdez’s residence on McKinley Road in Forbes Park, Makati City. He said he took part in more than 10 of those deliveries.

“Maaamoy niyo po yung bagong pera. Nasusuya na nga po ako [sa amoy ng pera],” Orbillo said. 

He added that he also made deliveries on separate occasions to properties linked to Romualdez, including one on Narra Avenue in Forbes Park, where they were met by a certain “Bobby,” who he said was the lawmaker’s personal driver, and another on Aguado Street in Manila.

Orbillo claimed that his fellow former bodyguards told him that Co’s wife Mylene had reportedly become enraged after Romualdez called her to complain that one of the deliveries of cash-filled suitcases was short of the expected amount.

“Nalaman ko sa kasamahan, kasi nagalit si ma’am Mylene, asawa ni Cong. Zaldy, na siya tinawagan ni Cong. Martin na kulang daw dineliver,” he said. 

According to Orbillo, the only thing Romualdez ever gave them for the deliveries was a cake, divided among the other ex-bodyguards.

He added that despite the large amounts of money they transported, his salary from Co was only P51,000 per month, plus a P30,000 Christmas bonus.

Romualdez has maintained his innocence against the allegations. 

Orbillo added that he was part of the alleged delivery of cash-filled suitcases to Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, former Sen. Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes, and former Marikina Second District Rep. Stella Quimbo.

Trillanes denied the claim in a message to ABS-CBN News.

”Definitely not true. In fact, nag-recant na nga mismo ‘yong mga kasamahan niyan at sinabi na hindi totoo ang mga paratang nila na nagbigay sila sa akin ng maleta ng pera,” he said. 

“Kaya nga kinekwestyon ko ang motibo ni Ombudsman Boying Remulla sa pakikipag-collaborate kay Baligod at mga maleta boys na ‘yan,” he added. 

Sotto, who previously denied receiving kickbacks, said the testimony implicating him was an “old story” that “does not deserve a response.”

Quimbo has yet to issue a statement though she earlier denied the allegations.

Meanwhile, Romualdez’s lawyer, Atty. Rashel Pomoy, presented a news clip in which Atty. Levito Baligod, counsel for the former bodyguards, admitted that the inclusion of Sen. Loren Legarda in their joint affidavit on cash deliveries was a mistake.

Asked to confirm this, Orbillo said no delivery was made to Legarda’s residence.

“Tama ba si Atty. Baligod na nagkamali ang 18 marines na nagdeliver sila kay Sen. Legarda?” Pomoy asked, to which Orbillo replied in the affirmative. 

Before suitcases were used to transport kickbacks from infrastructure projects, the prosecution said cash deliveries were initially stored in plastic storage boxes in 2022.

Orbillo testified that he kept one of those boxes for his personal use. 

“Binigay po ng katiwala ni Zaldy Co… para may paglagyan ng gamit ko po,” he said. 

The prosecution showed the box in court, which it said was used to hold money allegedly sourced from DPWH Bulacan First District Engr. Henry Alcantara for Co.

Alcantara is set to testify in the hearing on Oct. 20. 

Orbillo also claimed that Col. William Dominguez, the alleged second-in-command of Co’s bodyguards, promised them P3 million each in exchange for their “silence.”

“Sinabihan na kami ni Col. Dominguez na stay put lang kayo at may ibibigay kaming P3 million sa pananahimik niyo,” he said.

The amount was later reduced to P1 million, then to P300,000, Orbillo said, but he said that this was not why he testified against Co.

Soon after, they were offered P15 million to P20 million to recant their statements. 

Orbillo then showed the court purported phone messages between him and ex-bodyguard Benny Bulontate, who allegedly urged him to join them in recanting their testimonies. Orbillo said he refused the offer. 

He reportedly told Bulontate that he would not squander the chance to tell the truth, having himself been falsely accused in the past. He said he was previously charged with frustrated murder, but the case was later dismissed.

“Hindi ko po tinanggap. Ang unang muna pong sinabi ko noon, kaya akong natanggal sa aking serbisyo sa pagma-Marines dahil kinasuhan po ako sa aming sa probinsya sa Pangasinan ng kaso na di ko ginawa. Ito na lang na ‘yong nalalaman ko na totoo na nangyari sa buhay ko. Sisirain ko pa ba?” he told the court.

Atty. Rashel Pomoy, counsel for Romualdez, argued that the response of Orbillo in the message was marked as edited on August 6. 

Asked by Pomoy if Baligod had provided them with any assistance, Orbillo said Baligod was working pro bono and occasionally gave them food and allowance.

He added that some vloggers provided financial support after they lost their jobs.

She then asked Orbillo if anyone other than Baligod had urged them to come forward with their allegations against the former House Speaker. Orbillo said he had not spoken to anyone else about the matter.

“It’s relevant to know who the personalities are behind [them speaking out] because this affects their credibility,” Pomoy told the court.

Associate Justice Karl Moreno then clarified that finding out who is organizing the press conferences is different from finding out who is telling them what to say.