Ex-Marine says he delivered suitcases of ‘basura’ to Co, Romualdez

MANILA, Philippines —  A surprise witness – a former member of the Philippine Marines – who claimed to have worked as security consultant to Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, testified yesterday before the Senate Blue Ribbon committee about personally delivering “basura” or suitcases containing millions of pesos to the residences of the congressman and of then House speaker Martin Romualdez.

It was Sen. Rodante Marcoleta who introduced Master Sergeant Orly Regala Guteza as a witness, and even appeared to coach him into sticking to his prepared sworn affidavit.

Guteza claimed he personally delivered 46 Rimowa luggage each containing P48 million to the posh residences of Co and Romualdez.

Guteza called the cash “basura” or trash, a common law enforcement term for contraband, which in his case was the congressmen’s alleged illegal proceeds from flood control projects.

The witness said he personally joined the security detail three times for the delivery of cash to Romualdez’s Forbes Park residence and to aides John Paul Estrada and Mark Tecsay at Co’s Bonifacio Global City residence.

At one point, Guteza says he even delivered alleged kickbacks at the ex-speaker’s Aguado residence near Malacañang and at a house allegedly bought from Michael Yang, Duterte’s former economic adviser who was implicated in illegal drugs and offshore gaming activities.

Guteza said the deliveries of the alleged kickbacks were facilitated by then ACT-CIS party-list congressman and now Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, who allegedly brought the 46 pieces of luggage of cash to Co’s Valle Verde house in Pasig City.

He said of the 46 pieces of luggage, 11 were delivered to the residence of Co, while the remaining 35 were delivered to Romualdez’s Forbes house.