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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 2 Ako Bicol Party-list aides refute Guteza's bombshell claims in Blue Ribbon hearing

2 Ako Bicol Party-list aides refute Guteza's bombshell claims in Blue Ribbon hearing

Published Sep 26, 2025 06:52 pm

At A Glance

  • Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co hasn't come home yet but his camp is already trying to fight back against the allegations of corruption that have been hounding him.
Mark Bunagan (left), Allan Colesio (Ako Bicol Party-list)
Mark Bunagan (left), Allan Colesio (Ako Bicol Party-list)


Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co hasn't come home yet but his camp is already trying to fight back against the allegations of corruption that have been hounding him.
This, after two personal assistants affiliated with Ako Bicol Party-list refuted on Friday, Sept. 26 involvement in transporting suitcases purportedly filled with cash to congressmen, as claimed by witness Orly Gutera during Thursday's Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing.
In separate sworn affidavits, Mark Bunagan and Allan Colesio belied the testimony of Guteza, who was brought in unannounced by Senator Rodante Marcoleta during the panel's inquiry on the flood control projects corruption scandal.
Guteza claimed that he personally delivered large sums of cash in luggages to various residences of Co and former House Speaker, Leyte 1st district Rep Martin Romualdez. Both solons have vehemently denied the allegations.
Upon questioning by senators, Guteza also implicated Bunagan and Colesio by name, and claimed 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 said in a sworn affidavit.
This was corroborated by Colesio in a separate sworn affidavit. Both 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," they said.
(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.)
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 Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, is currently probing allegations that billions of pesos in flood control funds were misallocated.
Before this, Lacson said the panel won't invite Co to the proceedings as a matter of inter-parliamentary courtesy. He has also ordered a thorough background check on Guteza.
Earlier Friday, House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III gave Co until Monday, Sept. 29 to return from abroad and personally face the claims of corruption.
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