3rd ‘maleta boy’ testifies in Romualdez plunder case
MANILA, Philippines — Another one of the so-called “maleta boys” testified on Tuesday at the bail hearing of the plunder case against Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, claiming he took part in the delivery of cash allegedly representing project kickbacks to four properties linked to the ex-Speaker between 2023 and 2024.
Gil Navidad was the third called to the stand out of the five men whose affidavits were used by the Office of the Ombudsman in building the P7.4-billion plunder case against Romualdez, a cousin of President Marcos.
He was also one of the 18 men, most of them former Marines, first presented to the public by lawyer Levito Baligod in February. The 18 claimed to be part of the security team of resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, one of the key figures in the public works corruption scandal and now a fugitive and Romualdez’s coaccused.
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READ: Video of ‘maletas’ in Romualdez home shown in court
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According to Navidad, three cash deliveries were made to houses located on McKinley, Narra, and Tamarind streets at Forbes Park, Makati City, while a fourth delivery was made to a compound on Aguado Street in Manila, near Malacañang.
‘Basura’
Navidad said the delivery to McKinley Street was made on Nov. 21, 2023; to Narra in mid-June 2024; to Tamarind in November 2024; and to Aguado in September 2024.
“That’s the order of our team leader so we delivered the ‘basura’ (trash) there,” Navidad said during direct examination, adding that basura was their code for money.
The witness said he never personally saw Romualdez during any of the deliveries.
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But he said he knew the McKinley residence belonged to the ex-Speaker because he used to be the private driver of one of the lawmaker’s friends in the early 2000s before he started working for Co.
During his time as driver, he said, he personally delivered gifts to the McKinley address, with the packages indicating they were meant for Romualdez. /cb
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