‘NO CASH SEEN’: Witnesses cast doubt on suitcase Deliveries in p7.4-b plunder case

MANILA — Two prosecution witnesses in the P7.4-billion plunder case against Leyte’s Cong. Martin Romualdez admitted before the Sandiganbayan on Monday that they never saw cash inside dozens of suitcases delivered to the Taguig residence of former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co, raising questions about the evidentiary weight of their testimonies linking the luggage to alleged kickbacks from government projects.

During the fourth day of Romualdez’s bail hearing, the two former security aides of Co acknowledged that their knowledge of supposed cash deliveries was based largely on observations of luggage being transported into the residence and conversations they had overheard.

Police Major Alvin Nuguid, who served in Co’s close-in security detail from March 2024 to July 2025, testified that approximately 50 to 60 suitcases had been delivered to the former lawmaker’s residence during his assignment.

However, Nuguid categorically admitted that he never personally saw money inside any of the suitcases.

“Mga 50 to 60 na maleta [na dumating sa bahay]. Wala po akong nakikita na pera sa loob ng maleta. Iyong maleta lang nakikita namin,” Nuguid testified.

He likewise acknowledged having no knowledge of where the alleged money was counted, explaining that he was stationed outside the residence.

Nuguid said suspicions about the suitcases arose in April 2025 after Co’s executive assistants began referring to the deliveries as “basura,” or garbage.

He recalled hearing jokes suggesting that the supposed garbage actually contained money, although he emphasized that he never witnessed cash being handled.

“Naririnig ko po iyong mga biruan na may pera sa basura,” he said.

Nuguid identified John Paul Estrada and Mark Ticsay among the executive assistants whose conversations he had overheard.

Under questioning by Sandiganbayan justices, Nuguid confirmed that Romualdez had visited Co’s Taguig residence on one occasion, staying for less than two hours.

However, he did not testify that the visit involved any transaction related to the alleged kickbacks.

Although he frequently accompanied Co aboard a vehicle used for VIP transport, Nuguid also could not establish whether the former lawmaker had discussed the suitcase deliveries with anyone.

“Hindi ko po ma-confirm sino ang mga kausap niya (I can’t confirm who he was talking to),” Nuguid said.

Another prosecution witness, Police Master Sergeant Larry Bellen, who served as Co’s security aide for eight years, similarly acknowledged that he had no firsthand knowledge of what the suitcases contained.

Bellen testified that he witnessed luggage being delivered to Co’s residence on approximately 10 to 12 occasions, with the suitcases transported using trolleys.

But when questioned about whether the luggage contained money, Bellen admitted he could not confirm the allegation.

“Wala po akong personal knowledge,” Bellen told the court.

Bellen also recalled overhearing a conversation between Co and his wife, Mylene, about Romualdez allegedly encouraging Co to seek a party-list seat in Congress.

Co served as Ako Bicol party-list representative from June 2019 until June 2025.

He left the Philippines in July 2025 amid reports linking him to alleged irregularities in government flood control projects.

The prosecution presented the two security personnel as witnesses in the ongoing bail proceedings involving Romualdez and his co-accused, including Co.

The P7.4-billion plunder case centers on allegations that kickbacks were collected from government-funded projects.

While both witnesses confirmed repeated deliveries of suitcases to Co’s residence, neither provided firsthand testimony establishing that the luggage contained cash or that the deliveries were connected to the alleged kickback scheme.

Their admissions leave the prosecution to establish through other evidence whether the suitcases were used to transport illicit funds and whether the accused were involved in the alleged transactions.

The Sandiganbayan has yet to determine Romualdez’s application for bail, with the evidentiary value of the testimonies remaining subject to the court’s assessment./PN