Former Zaldy Co Aide Links Martin Romualdez to Flood Control Scandal

A former aide of Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co has implicated House Speaker Martin Romualdez in the ongoing flood control project controversy, alleging that millions of pesos in kickbacks were funneled through a series of cash deliveries.

Testimony Before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee

At a Senate Blue Ribbon panel hearing, Orly Regala Guteza, a former security consultant of Rep. Co, claimed that he personally handled the transport of luggages filled with cash, referred to as “basura.” According to his testimony, each suitcase contained around ₱48 million, intended for delivery to specific residences linked to lawmakers.

Guteza said he was hired on December 5, 2024, and regularly reported for duty at the 56th floor of Horizon Residences in Bonifacio Global City, where Rep. Co lives. His work, however, often involved what he described as “garbage duty,” a code name for moving suitcases packed with money.

Cash Deliveries to Valle Verde 6

The former aide explained that when tasked with “garbage duty,” he and his team would usually head to 28th Ladybug corner Dragonfly Street in Valle Verde 6, Pasig City. There, luggages would be received by John Paul Estrada and Mark Tecsay, both executive assistants of Rep. Co.

“After we brought down the said ‘garbage,’ it was brought into Congressman Zaldy Co’s house in Valle Verde 6 and counted by Mark and Paul,” Guteza told senators.

Once the money was verified and counted, the cash-stuffed suitcases were reportedly transported back to Horizon Residences in Taguig, specifically to Co’s unit.

Alleged Deliveries to Martin Romualdez

In a more serious allegation, Guteza stated that not all the “garbage” stayed with Rep. Co. He testified that part of the money was diverted to the home of House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

“For example, we brought up 46 suitcases, but we would bring down only 35 suitcases to deliver to the houses of House Speaker Martin Romualdez at 42 McKinley Street, Taguig. The 11 suitcases were left upstairs on the 56th floor of Horizon Residences,” Guteza claimed.

He added that he had personally delivered the suitcases to Romualdez’s residence at least three times. Other members of Co’s security and support staff, who worked on a rotating basis, were also reportedly involved in similar deliveries.

Mention of Other Lawmakers

In addition to implicating Romualdez, Guteza’s sworn affidavit also identified Benguet Rep. Eric Yap. According to his testimony, Yap allegedly transported 46 suitcases of money to Co’s residence in Valle Verde 6.

Ongoing Investigations

The allegations form part of the Senate’s investigation into the flood control project controversy, where large sums of government funds are suspected to have been misused. The testimony adds another layer to the case, suggesting that the alleged distribution of kickbacks may have extended to top-ranking officials in the House of Representatives.

As of now, none of the lawmakers named by Guteza have publicly addressed or confirmed the allegations. The Senate inquiry continues as more witnesses are expected to testify in the coming weeks.