Two longtime aides of Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co firmly denied on Friday that they ever delivered bribe money linked to the controversial flood control projects.
Mark Bunagan and Allan Colesio directly responded to accusations made by Orly Guteza, who earlier claimed to be Co’s “security consultant” during the ongoing Senate blue ribbon probe.
But Bunagan, in his sworn affidavit, rejected this claim.
“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 clarified.
Colesio, in a separate affidavit, backed up Bunagan’s testimony, saying their work history did not match Guteza’s version.
Both men also strongly denied ever handling bags of cash.
“During the entire time we worked together, I have no recollection of ever hearing, seeing, or even reading about the delivery of bags of money. At no point did we ever carry or transport cash to any place—especially not to the 56th floor of Horizon Residences or 42 McKinley Street in Taguig, as claimed by Orly Regala Guteza,” they said in their joint statement.
The aides also stressed they were not forced, bribed, or pressured to issue their affidavits. They added that they are willing to testify in the Senate—or even in court—to defend their accounts.
Representative Co, for his part, has consistently denied pocketing money from flood control projects. He earlier vowed to return to the country and face the allegations head-on to clear his name.
The controversy comes as the Department of Public Works and Highways asked the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to freeze an estimated ₱4.3 billion worth of air assets tied to Co and his family. This move forms part of the government’s sweeping crackdown on allegedly ill-gotten wealth linked to the flood control mess.
