MANILA — Orly Regala Guteza, former security consultant of Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, has implicated former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in the alleged flood control scam, claiming the lawmaker received kickbacks from government projects.

Guteza made the allegations during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing.

Guteza said he was tasked with carrying and delivering suitcases called “basura,” each containing about P48 million in cash, to designated locations while serving as Co’s security aide.

He reported daily to Co’s residence on the 56th floor of Horizon Residences in Bonifacio Global City.

“After we brought down the said ‘garbage,’ it was brought into Congressman Zaldy Co’s house in Valle Verde 6 and counted by Mark and Paul,” he said, referring to Co’s executive assistants John Paul Estrada and Mark Tecsay.

“What usually happens when we are on duty with the ‘garbage’ is that it is often brought to Congressman Zaldy Co’s house in Valle Verde 6, where it is received by Mark and Paul.”

Guteza said the money was then loaded into vehicles and delivered to Horizon Residences in Taguig, where it was unloaded in the basement before being taken to Co’s unit.

He also said not all suitcases were delivered to the intended recipients.

“For example, we brought up 46 suitcases, but we would bring down only 35 suitcases to deliver to the houses of House Speaker Martin Romualdez at 42 McKinley Street, Taguig. The 11 suitcases were left upstairs on the 56th floor of Horizon Residences,” Guteza said.

In a sworn affidavit, Guteza also implicated Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, saying Yap delivered 46 suitcases containing money to Co’s residence in Valle Verde 6.

He added that multiple deliveries occurred depending on the personnel assigned as close-in security, backup, or advance party.

“There were more instances when we delivered the ‘garbage’ to the house of Speaker Romualdez and to the house of Congressman Zaldy Co, because we were different personnel assigned as close-in security, backup, and advance party, who were on rotation,” he said.