Ex-bodyguards of Zaldy Co link more personalities to alleged cash deliveries

Former bodyguards of ex-congressman Zaldy Co on Tuesday linked more individuals to their alleged delivery of cash, claiming that they delivered money to Commission on Elections (COMELEC) chairperson George Garcia, Senator Francis Escudero, as well as to some media personalities.

According to Ian Cruz’s report in “24 Oras”, Levi Baligod, the lawyer of the 18 bodyguards, presented four new witnesses during a press conference.

One of them is Jeron Valderama who allegedly joined in delivering cash-filled suitcases to former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Senator Erwin Tulfo when he was still a congressman.

He also mentioned COMELEC’s Garcia, who allegedly received money from Co.

“Ang una pong lumapit sa amin ay 'yung driver niya. Then binuksan ni Mark Ticsay sa right slide door, inabot sa driver ni George Garcia. Then pagkalampas ng ilang metro magkasalubong sila ni George Garcia then lumapit si Chairman George Garcia, then binuksan ni ulit ni Mark Ticsay yung sliding door then inabot yung receiving copy,” said Valderama.

(The first one to approach us was his driver. Then Mark Ticsay opened the right sliding door and handed it to George Garcia's driver. Then after moving past a few meters, they crossed paths with George Garcia. Chairman George Garcia approached, and Mark Ticsay opened the sliding door again to hand over the receiving copy.)

“Lahat ng ‘yan ay kasinungalingan. Dati, apat na maleta daw ang binigay sa akin sa harap ng Midas Hotel. Ngayon bag na maliit na lang. Hindi na nagtutugma ang mga sinasabi nila. Nagtatalo-talo na,” he said.

(All of that is a lie. Before, they claimed four suitcases were given to me in front of the Midas Hotel. Now, it's just a small bag. Their statements no longer match. They are contradicting themselves.)

“‘Yan ang mahirap kapag may nagdidikta lang kung ano ang sasabihin nila at hindi ‘yung kung ano ang totoo. Ano naman ang kinalaman ko sa flood control?” he added.

(That is the problem when someone is just dictating what they should say, rather than what the truth actually is. Besides, what do I have to do with flood control?)

The former bodyguards also presented some photos related to their cash deliveries. Among them is a photo of Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and his wife, Sharon Cuneta, with the staff of Co. But they did not give details about it.

Another former aide of Co also detailed the alleged delivery of suitcases full of cash to the house of Escudero.

“Naghatid kami ng apat na maleta na may ibat-ibang sukat,” he claimed.

Escudero is being sought for his statement regarding the allegation.