Ex-bodyguards of Zaldy Co link more personalities to alleged cash deliveries

Former bodyguards of ex-congressman Zaldy Co on Tuesday linked more individuals to their alleged delivery of cash, claiming that they delivered money to Commission on Elections (COMELEC) chairperson George Garcia, Senator Francis Escudero, as well as to some media personalities.

According to Ian Cruz’s report in “24 Oras”, Levi Baligod, the lawyer of the 18 bodyguards, presented four new witnesses during a press conference.

One of them is Jeron Valderama who allegedly joined in delivering cash-filled suitcases to former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Senator Erwin Tulfo when he was still a congressman.

He also mentioned COMELEC’s Garcia, who allegedly received money from Co.

“Ang una pong lumapit sa amin ay 'yung driver niya. Then binuksan ni Mark Ticsay sa right slide door, inabot sa driver ni George Garcia. Then pagkalampas ng ilang metro magkasalubong sila ni George Garcia then lumapit si Chairman George Garcia, then binuksan ni ulit ni Mark Ticsay yung sliding door then inabot yung receiving copy,” said Valderama.

(The first one to approach us was his driver. Then Mark Ticsay opened the right sliding door and handed it to George Garcia's driver. Then after moving past a few meters, they crossed paths with George Garcia. Chairman George Garcia approached, and Mark Ticsay opened the sliding door again to hand over the receiving copy.)

GMA News is trying to reach out to Romualdez and Tulfo for comment, although they already denied the allegations previously.

On the other hand, Garcia refuted the claims against him.

“Lahat ng ‘yan ay kasinungalingan. Dati, apat na maleta daw ang binigay sa akin sa harap ng Midas Hotel. Ngayon bag na maliit na lang. Hindi na nagtutugma ang mga sinasabi nila. Nagtatalo-talo na,” he said.

(All of that is a lie. Before, they claimed four suitcases were given to me in front of the Midas Hotel. Now, it's just a small bag. Their statements no longer match. They are contradicting themselves.)

“‘Yan ang mahirap kapag may nagdidikta lang kung ano ang sasabihin nila at hindi ‘yung kung ano ang totoo. Ano naman ang kinalaman ko sa flood control?” he added.

(That is the problem when someone is just dictating what they should say, rather than what the truth actually is. Besides, what do I have to do with flood control?)

The former bodyguards also presented some photos related to their cash deliveries. Among them is a photo of Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and his wife, Sharon Cuneta, with the staff of Co. But they did not give details about it.

Another former aide of Co also detailed the alleged delivery of suitcases full of cash to the house of Escudero.

“Naghatid kami ng apat na maleta na may ibat-ibang sukat,” he claimed.

(We delivered four suitcases of various sizes.)

Escudero is being sought for his statement regarding the allegation.

The witnesses also presented a photo of them with former Philippine National Police chief and now MMDA General Manager Nicolas Torre. They claimed that it was taken when they were being convinced to deny the statements of Orly Guteza before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee in 2025.

The alleged former bodyguards also claimed to deliver cash-filled paper bags to TV reporter Arnold Clavio and columnist Mon Tulfo.

“Na-assign po ako sa isang PR na taga-media na si Bernard Peralta. Doon ko po nakita yung mga nabibigyan ng paperbag na mga anchor, na mga taga-media, kagaya po ni Arnold Clavio. At doon po muna at sa affidavit ko na lang po,” said Mario Ceniza Jr.

(I was assigned to a media PR practitioner named Bernard Peralta. That is where I saw anchors and media personalities being given paper bags, such as Arnold Clavio. Let's leave it at that for now, and I will detail the rest in my affidavit.)

In response, Clavio denied the allegations against him.

“Lies. Nakakatawa. Nakakalungkot. Pero lahat ng ito ay haharapin ko nang walang takot. Talk is cheap. Bago ang dada, ebidensya muna,” he said in a statement.

(Lies. Laughable. Saddening. But I will face all of this without fear. Talk is cheap. Before talking big, show the evidence first.)

Meanwhile, Tulfo just laughed about the claims made by the alleged former bodyguards.

“Paano magkakasya ang limpak-limpak na salapi sa isang supot? Bayong pa kung ganoon!” the columnist said in a Facebook post.

(How can huge amounts of money fit inside a small paper bag? It should have been bayong instead if that were the case!) —Vince Angelo Ferreras/NB, GMA News