Former Speaker Martin Romualdez allegedly urged former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co to run as a party-list nominee, a witness told the Sandiganbayan Third Division on Monday.
Larry Bellen, a long-time former executive aide of Co, said this when he testified before the anti-graft court during Romualdez’s bail hearing, where he faces a plunder case over alleged kickbacks from infrastructure projects worth P7.44 billion.
Co is also a co-accused in this plunder case, with Romualdez repeatedly denying any wrongdoing.
In his written affidavit, Bellen said he heard from Co’s wife the supposed encouragement of Romualdez.
However, Bellen clarified that he did not hear it directly from Romualdez.
Co chaired the powerful House Committee on Appropriations during Romualdez’s speakership, before he resigned as Ako Bicol representative in September last year after being linked to the flood control corruption scandal. The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division declared Co a fugitive.
Meanwhile, Bellen also told the court he personally witnessed up to a dozen ‘maleta’ (suitcase) being brought to Co’s unit at Horizon Homes in the Bonifacio Global City.
The witness said there are times when he was asked to push a trolley containing three to four suitcases.
However, when asked whether it contained money, he said, ‘I have no personal knowledge.’
Bellen, an aide of the ex-Ako Bicol representative since 2018, also said he already personally saw four suitcases in Co’s office back when he was still a businessman.
He said he heard that Co’s staff were ordered to deposit the contents of the suitcases in the bank.