Explosive testimony rocked the Senate’s flood control probe after a former staffer of Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co revealed that he was repeatedly tasked to deliver suitcases of cash to Co and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Orly Guteza, who once worked as Co’s security consultant, told senators that “basura” — the code word for money-filled suitcases — was regularly moved from Co’s residence to Romualdez’s home.
“Higit kumulang tatlong beses ako mismo ang nag-deliver ng basura sa bahay ni Congressman Zaldy Co sa Horizon Residences at sa bahay ni Speaker Romualdez sa 42 McKinley Street, Taguig,” Guteza said in his affidavit.
From December 2024 until his resignation in August this year, Guteza claimed he was moving 15 to 18 large suitcases of cash every week, some of which he said went straight to the Speaker’s address.
“Usually pag nanggagaling na sa Horizon na idine-deliver na doon sa Forbes, minsan mayroong 15 o kaya 18 na maleta. Pero malalaking maleta iyon. Nagre-rate yung bawat maleta, minsan mayroong 48, may 50 (million pesos),” he added.
At one point, Guteza said the delivery hit record-breaking levels: ₱2.2 billion in a single week, packed in 46 suitcases containing ₱48 million each.
It was during these handovers, he claimed, that he identified Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, who also served as ACT-CIS party-list representative, as being present.
Yap has flatly denied the allegation.
“I have never accepted, nor authorized, the delivery of money in connection with flood control projects. These claims are untrue,” Yap said, adding that he is ready to face Guteza “in a proper forum and under proceedings where my constitutional rights are respected.”