Leyte First District Rep. Martin Romualdez pleads not guilty during his arraignment via videoconference from the Quezon City Jail in Payatas on September 16, 2026. Aaron Favila, AP Photos/ Pool
MANILA — Five of the former personnel of ex-congressman Zaldy Co will testify in the bail hearing of Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, lawyer Levito Baligod said on Wednesday.
Romualdez and Co are facing plunder charges before the Sandiganbayan over an alleged P7.4-billion kickback scheme from government projects.
The bail hearing of the former House speaker, who is detained at the Quezon City Jail, is scheduled to start on Oct. 12.
“They [former personnel] have less than two weeks to prepare,” Baligod told reporters.
Eighteen former aides earlier claimed that they delivered suitcases of kickback money to Romualdez. Four of them have recanted their testimonies.
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Baligod said the personnel who stood firm with their statements were willing to submit their phones for forensic examination.
“Pinapanindigan lang namin ‘yung mga kailangan sa amin din. Halimbawa, the need to conduct forensic examination on the cellphones na ginamit sa pagkuha ng picture [of evidence] et cetera,” he said.
“Sabi namin, para kuntento kayo, we are willing to submit the cellphones to forensic examination,” the lawyer added.
Baligod said there were still efforts to persuade other former personnel to recant as well.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla previously said more charges would be filed against Romualdez, including money laundering and bribery.
Co, a former House appropriations committee chairman, remains at large as he faces malversation and graft charges over other infrastructure projects.
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