2 more ex-bodyguards tell court of cash deliveries to Romualdez

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Two more former security aides of former Congressman Zaldy Co told the Sandiganbayan about delivering suitcases filled with cash to the houses of Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez on several occasions.

According to Maki Pulido's report on "24 Oras," Gil Navidad testified in Romualdez's bail hearing that he witnessed or personally delivered suitcases to Romualdez's various residences five times.

Romualdez’s defense team argued that Navidad had no personal knowledge of the matter, but the court dismissed most of their objections.

One of the deliveries he mentioned occurred on November 21, 2023, which was also previously cited by George Villalon and Johnny Buduan—both of whom identified themselves as former Marines and former bodyguards of Co.

According to Navidad, he knew the house in McKinley belonged to Romualdez because he used to deliver Christmas gifts there while working as a driver for a close friend of the former Speaker.

Navidad admitted that he had never seen Romualdez in person.

However, he said he knew the suitcases contained money because he had seen Co’s former staff members, John Paul Estrada and Mark Digsay, arranging the cash several times at a condo unit in BGC, Taguig.

The prosecution presented another witness, Christopher Esquivel, a former security driver for Co.

Esquibel said he knew the suitcases delivered in November 2023 contained cash because Co’s aide instructed him to be careful, explaining that they contained money to be delivered to Romualdez.

He also mentioned that Post-it notes were attached to the suitcases indicating the amount inside, which were removed before delivery.

According to Esquibel, depending on the size of the suitcase, each contained between P10 million and P17 million.

In the judicial affidavits of Navidad and Esquibel, they claimed that someone had offered them P10 million to recant their statements, though they did not reveal who made the offer.

Romualdez was not present at the continuation of his bail hearing after executing a waiver of appearance. –NB, GMA News