Witness says he saw Zaldy Co give Martin Romualdez clothes, not maleta

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Prosecution witness Police Major Ermelo Dichoso Jr., a former security detail of ex-Rep. Zaldy Co of Ako Bicol party-list, testified Thursday that Co gifted ex-Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez with clothes.

Dichoso made the testimony during Day 6 of the hearing on Romualdez’s bail petition amid the P7.4 billion plunder case filed against him alongside Co, Romualdez's personal assistant Joselyn Tragua Sereño, and Felicito Cristobal Guevarra, president of Samchan Foreign Exchange Corporation over alleged pocketing of kickbacks from government projects.

During cross examination of Romualdez’s counsels, Dichoso confirmed seeing Co give clothes to Romualdez as gift as stated in his judicial affidavit.

“Hindi po maleta [ang nakita ninyong inabot] (You didn’t see any suitcase being handed over)?” asked the defense counsel.

To which, Dichoso replied: “Hindi po, damit po (No, it was clothes).”

At the same time, Dichoso testified that he was with Co when the former lawmaker met with Romualdez and other lawmakers four times, including in Aguado in Manila and at the Manila Polo Club Townhouse which Dichoso said are properties of Romualdez.

Asked by Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Fritz delos Santos if there were cash deliveries made to Romualdez during these meetings, Dichoso said “No.”

Ahead of Dichoso taking the witness stand, Romualdez’s lawyers opposed the inclusion of his testimony by citing that the contents of Dichoso’s affidavit were mere hearsay or information he heard from other people.

In response, the prosecution said they were presenting Dichoso as witness “to prove the world “basura (garbage),” referring to money, was used by Co’s team. — RSJ, GMA News