* Romualdez, Co tagged as top recipients
* ICI finds ghost projects in Davao Occidental
* Blue Ribbon invites HOR Deputy Sec. Gabonada Former Marine Officer Orly Regala Guteza, a surprise witness presented by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigation, opened the can of worms revealing how billions of pesos were delivered to the residences of then House Speaker Committee Chairman Zaldy Co and former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
Guteza clearly described how he took part of the delivery of not less 15 pieces of Rimuwa luggage of cash each containing ₱28-million three times weekly starting last December. Moreover he disclosed that at one time he delivered 43 pieces of luggage in the house of Romualdez in Forbes Park. He said that they call the delivery items as “basura”.
Guteza, according to Marcoleta, had earlier approached Rep. Defensor who said that the ex-marine officer had wanted to share what he knew about how billions of cash in luggage were delivered to the residence of Zaldy Co and how the share of Romualdez subsequently delivered in the Speakers residence. Marcoleta agreed to present Guteza in last Thursday’s Blue Ribbon Committee hearing. Guteza bared that he is one of about 90 security personnel of Zaldy Co.
Co had fled to the US and bringing with him his luxury possessions including multi-billion worth of air assets. For his part Romualdez had denied any hands in the scandalous awards of flood control projects and receiving kickbacks referred to as “commitments”.
Romualdez trusted man, Deputy Secretary General Sofonias Gabonada, who had been accused by Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib for alleged involvement in corruption was summoned by the Blue Ribbon Committee on motion of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. Gabonada used to be the Provincial Information Officer of Davao del Norte.
In a related development, Department of Public Works and Highways Sec. Vince Dizon confirmed to the Mindanao Journal that the Independent Commission on Infrastructure has discovered a ghost flood control project in Davao Occidental awarded to Timothy Construction of the Discaya couple. He said that they are in the process of validating othe reported ghost and substandard projects in the region.
