Romualdez urged Co to enter politics, court told

Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez encouraged former Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co to enter politics, a former security aide testified before the Sandiganbayan Third Division on Monday, while recounting seeing suitcases delivered to Co’s residence.

Police Chief Master Sergeant Larry Bellen, who served as Co’s close-in security from 2018 until the former lawmaker resigned in September 2025, said he learned of Romualdez’s alleged role after overhearing a conversation between Co and Mylene Co.

Bellen, however, clarified during questioning by Romualdez’s defense lawyers that he never personally heard the former House Speaker encourage Co to run for a House seat.

Co entered politics in 2019 under the Ako Bicol Partylist banner and later chaired the powerful House Committee on Appropriations from 2022 to 2025, overseeing budget deliberations and the crafting of the General Appropriations Bill.

Associate Justice Fritz Delos Santos asked Bellen whether he had personally witnessed suitcases being brought to Co’s residence at Horizon Homes in Taguig City.

Bellen confirmed seeing suitcases delivered to the property but said he could not verify whether they contained cash, as alleged by previous prosecution witnesses.

He later told Associate Justice Karl Miranda that he had seen an estimated 10 to 12 suitcases brought to Co’s residence while the latter was a congressman.

Romualdez visited Co after ouster

Earlier in Monday’s hearing, Police Major Alvin Nuguid testified that Romualdez visited Co at his Horizon Homes residence after Co was removed as appropriations committee chairman.

Nuguid, who served as Co’s security aide from March 2024 to July 2025, said the visit lasted less than two hours. He admitted, however, that he did not know its purpose.

Nuguid also testified that he had heard from fellow security personnel that the suitcases delivered to Co’s residence contained cash described as “basura” or trash.

He said he had seen around 50 to 60 suitcases at the residence but could not identify where the deliveries were headed.