Witness: Cash deliveries to Zaldy Co could reach over P1 billion

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A prosecution witness on Thursday said he delivered "commitment fees" or kickbacks amounting to over P1 billion to former House appropriations panel chairperson Zaldy Co of Ako Bicol party-list in eight instances.

Wilt Walter Rosales, the former personal assistant of state witness and former engineer Henry Alcantara of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan First District Engineering Office (DEO), testified on the matter during Day 6 of the bail petition hearing of former speaker and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez.

The former leader of the House of Representatives is facing a P7.4-billion plunder case alongside Co, his personal assistant Joselyn Tragua Sereño, and Felicito Cristobal Guevarra, president of Samchan Foreign Exchange Corporation.

"Maaari pong umabot mahigit [P1 billion] (It could reach over P1 billion)," Rosales said when asked by Sandiganbayan Third Division Associate Justice Ronald Moreno of the total amount of money delivered to Co in those eight instances reached P1 billion.

Three deliveries were made to Co's Horizon Residence in Taguig City, while five others to Co's Valle Verde residence in Pasig City.

Asked if Alcantara told him of the purpose of cash deliveries, Rosales replied "hindi po."

Rosales said the deliveries to Co were done in the following dates:

• February 2022
• January 2023
• February 2023
• September 2023
• October 2023
• December 2023
• January 2024
• December 2024

Of these eight instances, Rosales said that durabox was used for 2022 before suitcases were used from 2023 onwards.

Rosales also said he used to count the money for delivery to Co with Engineer Carlo Rivera of Bulacan First DEO before placing them in medium and large suitcases.

"Sampu-sampu po [na bundle na P100,000]. Kung sampu po siyang [bundles], P1 million na po iyon," Rosales said.

(They were in 10 bundles of P100,000 each. If those were 10, the amount would reach P1 million.)

Rosales said they counted the money in a red room inside Alcantara's office.

"Pinakamalaking nabilang ko po, mga P100 million (The largest amount I counted was P100 million)," Rosales added.

Rosales said a medium suitcase would contain P20 million, but could reach P25 million if it was an expandable suitcase. A large suitcase, on the other hand, would fit P20 million and could reach P40 million to P45 million if it was expandable as well.

The figures given by Rosales prompted Romualdez's counsels to point out that while there are expandable suitcases, Rosales did not state in his judicial affidavit that he delivered a P25 million in a medium suitcase or P40 million in a large suitcase.

The point raised by Romualdez's camp was based on Rosales' testimony that each suitcase had a sticky note indicating the amount of money it contained.

Rosales also testified that they counted money upon delivery of cash in suitcases.

During deliveries when he was not with Alcantara, Rosales said Alcantara would ask for acknowledgment receipts (ARs) to ensure that the money was indeed delivered.

These ARs, according to Rosales, were signed by either of Co's executive assistants, John Paul Estrada or Mark Ticsay.

Upon seeing these ARs, Rosales said Alcantara would instruct him to throw them away since they were of no use after the delivery of cash.

"Inuutos niya po na itapon na kasi tapos na po 'yan (He would order us to throw them away because the delivery was done)," Rosales said. — VDV, GMA News