LEYTE Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
A PROSECUTION witness has testified before the Sandiganbayan third division that he made multiple deliveries of cash held in suitcases in three locations but not once did he claim that former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez was even around in any of the three addresses he mentioned in his testimony.
During this testimony in Romualdez’s bail petition hearing on Thursday, Rodante Orbillo, a former Marine discharged from the service after facing a frustrated murder case, testified that he supposedly drove vehicles loaded with the suitcases to McKinley Road in Forbes Park, Makati City; Narra Avenue in the same Makati City village and an address on Aguado Street in Manila.
However, in his responses to direct examination by the prosecution, Orbillo failed to point to any occasion when Romualdez personally received any “maleta” delivery.
Responding to questions from members of the Sandiganbayan third division, Orbillo said he made at least 10 deliveries to the McKinley address, one trip to the Narra address and one delivery to the Aguado address.
Asked by Sandiganbayan third division chairperson and Associate Justice Karl Miranda what made him testify even if there were supposed offers a substantial amount of money for his silence, Orbillo said, “Kung kumagat po kami sa offer nilang iyon, wala na pong magsasalita sa nangyaring korapsyon sa flood control.”
Miranda reminded the witness that he should only speak for himself: “Don’t speak for the others, ang tinatanong ko, ikaw.”
Orbillo said he testified “para sa bayan.”
Miranda told the witness that it is always easy to talk cheap.
“Madaling magsabi na para sa bayan, lalo na kung malalaking amount ang involved,” the Sandiganbayan third division chairperson said.
In the course of his testimony, Romualdez’s lawyer Rashel Ann Pomoy tried to question the credibility and reliability of the February 2026 joint affidavit of 18 former bodyguards of resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co.
Orbillo is among the 18 who signed the joint affidavit.
Quoting Levito Baligod, the 18 former Co aides’ counsel, Pomoy said the sworn statement contained errors as it included Sen. Loren Legarda and former justice secretary-turned-Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima.
She said the joint affidavit that included erroneous accusations against Legarda and De Lima was the principal basis of subsequently allegations against Romualdez that led to the filing of a plunder case against the former Speaker.
Asked by Pomoy if he is aware of Baligod’s statements that the February affidavit contained errors, Orbillo answered in the affirmative.
The prosecution panel objected to the Romualdez lawyer’s line of questioning, saying Orbillo could not answer for Baligod’s “error” statement.
However, Pomoy, argued that Orbillo could be asked such questions since he signed the February 2026 affidavit which Baligod said contained errors.
“He is one of the affiants (signatories) of the affidavit as indicated by Atty. Baligod. These [errors] directly affect the matters of the affidavit because [there are] affiants who have recanted inclusion of certain individuals, and that Atty Baligod said these were errors,” she said.
“We want to know who is the person that is behind them coming out and saying these things,” she said.
During her cross examination of Orbillo, Pomoy also cited the recantation made by Mark Bunagan and Dennis Loma, given that Orbillo stated in his August 2026 affidavit submitted to the Ombudsman that he was with Bunagan and Loma in his money deliveries to Romualdez.
Orbillo said he wasn’t aware of the recantation of Bunagan and Loma.
Romualdez’s counsel also asked Orbillo if he was aware that principal flood control scam witness Orly Guteza, Rosebert Waupan and Benny Boluntante, who are among the 18 ex-bodyguards of Co, have likewise retracted their statements against Romualdez.
The prosecution witness answered in the affirmative. (END)
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