Former Surigao del Norte 2nd District Representative Robert Ace Barbers has linked the recent wave of accusations against former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez to what he described as a “hit-or-miss demolition job” allegedly initiated by retired Sgt. Orly Regala Guteza during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing.
Barbers, who previously chaired the House Quad Committee, said there appears to be a clear pattern of baseless and coordinated attacks designed to tarnish Romualdez’s credibility.
He pointed to the September 25 hearing of the Senate Committee on Accountability, Public Officers and Investigations (Blue Ribbon) as the moment that triggered a string of unverified reports targeting the former Speaker.
Guteza, who identified himself as a former Philippine Marines sergeant, claimed that he and several companions personally delivered suitcases of cash to the residences of Romualdez and former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co.
Romualdez categorically denied the allegations, calling them false, malicious, and politically motivated, insisting that no such delivery ever took place.
His legal team also questioned the credibility of Guteza’s sworn statement, citing inconsistencies in dates and details — including the fact that no one was residing in the Romualdez home at the time of the alleged delivery, as the property was under renovation.
Barbers urged investigative bodies, including the Senate Blue Ribbon panel, to handle such testimonies with great caution, warning that “an unverified statement without supporting evidence can easily become a weapon for character assassination.”
Following his surprise appearance before the Senate, Guteza reportedly failed to appear before the Department of Justice (DOJ) to substantiate his claims and has since not been seen in public.
Barbers also noted the timing of other reports linking Romualdez to supposed irregularities in farm-to-market road projects in Tacloban and to false rumors claiming he was being turned into a state witness — developments he said further suggest an orchestrated smear campaign.
In September, reports surfaced alleging overpricing in these farm-to-market projects in Leyte, allegedly under Romualdez’s influence.
However, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. later clarified that a Department of Agriculture internal audit found the projects in Leyte and Tacloban City to be compliant, with no “ghost” or substandard roads discovered.