Eight alleged former bodyguards of resigned Ako Bicol party-list representative Elizaldy "Zaldy" Co have formally signed and submitted their individual affidavits to the Office of the Ombudsman, their counsel announced on Friday, July 3, 2026 — resolving a signing delay that the anti-graft body had publicly flagged just one day earlier.
Atty. Levito Baligod confirmed the development in a social media post, saying each of the eight witnesses had personally affixed their signatures to their sworn statements. The signing converts what the Ombudsman had previously described as unsigned, non-binding narratives into sworn evidence that can now be formally placed under oath and used in case proceedings.
What the Sworn Statements Allege
The eight are among a broader group of self-proclaimed former security aides who surfaced earlier in 2026, claiming they were tasked to transport suitcases allegedly containing cash — described as kickbacks from anomalous government flood control projects — to various public officials, purportedly on the orders and directives of Co.
One of the alleged former bodyguards previously told investigators that he personally delivered roughly 20 suitcases on a single occasion, with amounts marked on each ranging from P40 million to P80 million. The wider group had earlier claimed the total deliveries amounted to hundreds of billions of pesos in supposed kickbacks.
Ombudsman Had Flagged Unsigned Drafts as 'Mere Scrap of Paper'
The submission follows a July 2 statement from Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano IV, who said investigators found the accounts of the eight to be "categorical and consistent," particularly regarding the alleged delivery of cash to former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and to Co himself.
Clavano had said the testimonies would be folded into the case build-up being prepared against Romualdez. At the time, however, he lamented that the affidavits remained unsigned, warning that the statements were "a mere scrap of paper as of right now because it has not been signed and is not under oath."
According to Clavano, draft affidavits had been furnished to Baligod as early as June 20, but the group sought an extension. He pointed to the counsel's review as the source of the delay.
Only Eight of 18 Accounts Deemed Strong Enough
The Ombudsman said only eight of the 18 accounts were considered sufficient to pursue, noting that the remaining witnesses provided "broad statements" or lacked first-hand knowledge of the actual deliveries. Separate affidavits were drafted for each of the eight so investigators could assess, on an individual basis, exactly what each witness claimed to have personally seen or done.
The anti-graft body conducted one-on-one interviews with the witnesses in June. The National Bureau of Investigation was separately deputized to verify the identities and backgrounds of the witnesses, according to the Ombudsman.
How the Probe Began
Earlier in 2026, 18 self-proclaimed former bodyguards and staff of Co, all represented by Baligod, came forward with allegations that they had ferried cash-filled luggage to several public officials. They initially submitted a single joint affidavit to the Ombudsman.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla rejected the joint submission as insufficient and ordered each individual to produce a separate sworn statement to strengthen credibility. The move to require individual affidavits was aimed at allowing investigators to assess each witness's claims on their own merits.
The allegations have also drawn cyberlibel and criminal complaints from several lawmakers, who have publicly denounced the claims as malicious and unfounded.
No Charges Filed; Case Remains at Fact-Finding Stage
The Ombudsman has stressed that it is not making any determination on the ultimate credibility of the witnesses or the guilt of any respondent at this stage. According to the anti-graft office, those matters will be for the courts to decide should formal cases eventually be filed.
The allegations remain unproven as of July 3, 2026, and no charges have yet been filed in connection with the claimed cash deliveries.
By the Numbers
- 8 — former bodyguards who signed and submitted individual affidavits to the Ombudsman
- 18 — total self-proclaimed former bodyguards and staff who originally surfaced with allegations
- 20 — suitcases allegedly delivered on a single occasion by one witness
- P40 million to P80 million — amounts allegedly marked on individual suitcases
- June 20 — date draft affidavits were first furnished to the witnesses' counsel
Why This Matters
The submission of signed, sworn affidavits transforms previously non-binding draft statements into formal evidence that the Ombudsman can act upon, marking a significant procedural step in the case build-up against high-profile respondents including former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. The allegations, if substantiated, would implicate senior government officials in the illicit diversion of funds from public flood control projects. The outcome of the Ombudsman's fact-finding process will determine whether formal charges are filed and the matter proceeds to the courts.
Photo credit: Photo from the Office of the Ombudsman