Before ‘maleta,’ durabox used to haul alleged kickbacks, Sandiganbayan told

MANILA, Philippines — Prior to suitcases (maleta), the purported bagmen of former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co used durable plastic boxes called “duraboxes” to haul cash intended for alleged kickbacks.

This is what a witness at a Sandiganbayan Third Division hearing revealed on Thursday.

Rodante Orbillo made this known when he took the witness stand before the anti-graft court to testify in the bail hearing of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

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The case stems from P7.44 billion worth of alleged kickbacks from infrastructure projects that reportedly involved the former House leader.

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READ: ‘Paldo ka na’: Recanter in Romualdez case allegedly got paid, court told

Orbillo, an ex-Marine and former bodyguard of Co, brought before the court an actual durabox used to encase cash.

Orbillo told Associate Justice Fritz Bryn Anthony Delos Santos, who presided the bail hearing, that he asked Co’s staff at Valle Verde in Pasig City if he could take the durabox home.

Co’s staff then gave it to Orbillo, who used the durabox as a container for his personal items.

Initially, the kickbacks were put inside such duraboxes, but purported bagmen used “maleta” later on, according to the prosecution, citing Orbillo’s written judicial affidavit. /apl