RODANTE Orbillo, a former aide of ex-lawmaker Zaldy Co, alleged that he delivered suitcases of grease money not only to former House speaker Martin Romualdez but also to Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III, former Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo and former senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
Orbillo, one of the so-called “18 Maleta Boys,” made the allegations on Thursday while testifying before the Sandiganbayan Third Division during the bail hearing of Romualdez, who faces a P7.4-billion plunder case.
“Old story. Does not deserve a response,” Sotto said when asked about the allegation.
Trillanes, meanwhile, categorically denied the claim, noting other members of the group had already recanted their allegations against him.
“Definitely not true. The other members of that group have already recanted and said their accusations that they delivered suitcases of money to me were untrue,” Trillanes said.
He questioned the motives of Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla for collaborating with lawyer Levito Baligod of the “Maleta boys.” “That is why I am questioning Ombudsman Boying Remulla’s motives in collaborating with Baligod and those so-called ‘maleta boys,’ who also implicated President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Rep. Sandro Marcos by claiming that they received suitcases,” Trillanes said.
Quimbo had yet to respond to the allegation.
During the same hearing, Orbillo testified that he rejected offers of money to withdraw his allegations against Romualdez, telling Associate Justice Ronald Moreno that the amount ranged from P15 million to P20 million, with another offer reaching P8 million.
Orbillo said he wanted to stand by the truth, citing his past experience of being falsely accused of frustrated murder. He identified Benny Bulontante, another accuser of Romualdez who later recanted, as among those who tried to convince him to withdraw his allegations.
Orbillo claimed Bulontante recanted in exchange for money but did not say how much was involved.
