TWO personal assistants affiliated with Ako Bicol Party-list today (26 September 2025) categorically denied involvement in transporting suitcases purportedly laden with cash, in connection with the ongoing Senate Blue Ribbon investigation into alleged irregularities in flood-control projects.
In separate sworn affidavits, Mark B. Bunagan, residing in Taguig City, and Allan P. Colesio refuted the testimony of Orly Regala Guteza, who recently took the stand before the Senate committee.
Guteza claimed that he personally delivered large sums of cash in luggage to various residences of Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Both vehemently denied the allegations.
On questioning, Guteza also implicated Bunagan and Colesio by name, claiming they have served as Co’s security consultants.
“I deny his statement that I was hired as a security consultant for Congressman Zaldy Co on December 5, 2024. The truth is, we only worked together as personal assistants for other family members of Congressman Co from February 1, 2025 until he stopped reporting for work in August 2025,” Bunagan stressed. Colesio confirmed this as well.
Bunagan and Colesio denied ever witnessing or participating in the alleged movement of cash. “Sa buong panahon na kami’y magkasama sa trabaho, wala akong natatandaan, naririnig o nababasa ukol sa umano’y pagdadala ng male-maletang pera sa iba’t ibang lugar. Wala rin ni isang pagkakataon na kami ay nagdala o pinagdala ng maleta ng pera sa anumang lugar lalo na sa 56th Floor ng Horizon Residences, Taguig City at 42 Mckinley St., Taguig City, tulad ng sinasabi ni Orly Regala Guteza. (During the entire time we worked together, I have no recollection of ever hearing or reading about deliveries of bags of cash to any location, including the 56th floor of Horizon Residences or 42 McKinley Street in Taguig, as claimed by Orly Regala Guteza,” they stressed.
Both affiants stressed that they were neither coerced nor compensated to issue their statements. They also expressed willingness to testify before the Senate or any court to corroborate their accounts.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is currently probing allegations that billions of pesos in flood-control funds were misallocated. Co has repeatedly denied the allegations.
