Witnesses on Romualdez plunder case: We saw suitcase deliveries, not the money

Two prosecution witnesses on Monday testified that they saw suitcases being delivered to former House appropriations panel chairperson Zaldy Co two to three times a week at the latter’s residence in Taguig.

Alvin Nuguid, a police major who served as close in security of Co from March 2024 to July 2025, made the testimony during Day 4 of the bail hearing of Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez in the P7.4 billion plunder case over his alleged involvement in a government projects kickback scheme.

Co is one of Romualdez's co-accused in the case.

“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 said.

(I saw 50 to 60 suitcases were brought up to the Taguig house. I did not see the money. I only saw the suitcases.)

“Hindi ko po alam kung saan binibilang [iyong laman ng maleta]. Andun lang po ako sa harapan [ng bahay],” Nuguid added when asked by Sandiganbayan Third Division Associate Justice Ronald Moreno about the testimony of Co's ex-security Rodante Orbillo, who said that the money in suitcases was delivered to the former lawmaker's house first for inventory.

He said he only started hearing about “special tasking” on suitcase deliveries of “basura”, referring to the money, among executive assistants of Co in April 2025.

“Naririnig ko po iyong mga biruan na may pera sa basura,” Nuguid responded when asked by Sandiganbayan Third Division chairperson and Associate Justice Karl Miranda how he came to know that the suitcases contained money.

(I overheard them joking that there is money in trash.)

These EAs, Nuguid said, include John Paul Estrada and Mark Ticsay.

He also said he saw Romualdez visit Co in the latter’s Taguig residence, and that visit lasted “less than two hours.”

Nuguid also testified that while he frequently rides with Co in a VIP car, he did not hear any conversation about any delivery of suitcases of money.

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

No personal knowledge

Police master sergeant Larry Bellen, who has been a security aide for Co for eight years, also took the witness stand for the prosecution on Monday.

Bellen said he saw suitcases delivered to Co's house 10 to 12 times, but like Nuguid, he could not say if the suitcases contained money.

“Wala po akong personal knowledge,” Bellen said when asked by Miranda as to the contents of the suitcases delivered to Co.

Asked how he was able to transport the suitcases, he said, “Naka trolley po (It was in trolleys).”

Bellen also said he once overheard Co and his wife, Mylene, mentioning that Romualdez has been convincing the former to run for as a party-list representative.

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

He left the country in July 2025 amid his reported links to flood control controversy.—AOL, GMA News