Former Anakalusugan Partylist Representative Mike Defensor has accused former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and former Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co of allegedly trying to discredit retired Marine T/Sgt. Orly Guteza, who had testified against them in the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee probe on the multibillion-peso flood control fund scandal.
Defensor made the statement despite a Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) ruling declaring that Guteza’s affidavit was falsified.
According to Defensor, Atty. Petchie Rose Espera, the lawyer who purportedly notarized Guteza’s sworn statement, might have been pressured into denying that she authenticated the document.
In a rare interview following his 2022 defeat in the Quezon City mayoral race, Defensor asserted that Guteza had no reason to forge the notarization of his affidavit.
“Kung anuman yung mga pagkakamali dun sa notaryo, yun naman ay nagamot na ng si Guteza ay nagpunta ng Senado at nagkaroon ng under oath statement, binanggit niya yung mismong balangkas nung kanyang salaysay and it’s there. Yan din yung lumalabas dun sa under oath statement niya sa Senado,” Defensor said.
Despite the RTC decision issued by Executive Judge Carolina Icasiano-Sison of Branch 18, Defensor maintained that Espera’s retraction should be examined further to uncover possible coercion.
“Ang interes ko dyan is to know who is behind the pressure doon sa notaryo to make (her) say na it’s fake. To make them claim in the court na peke ‘to kasi di ba it’s a way to discredit Sgt. Guteza. Bakit mo gagawin yung ganun?” he said.
When pressed for details, he added:
“Ang tingin ko talaga someone forced them, to stop them, to say na ‘huwag mong i-claim yang signature na yan.’ Espera should have said na… ‘hindi sa notary service talaga namin yan, naka-register yan, nasa records namin yan.’ Pero to say and to claim na falsified yung aking notarial service medyo malicious para sa akin yun. Medyo ina-angguluhan nila yun, ginagawan nila ng script na yung ginawa ni Guteza totally mali, totally falsified.”When asked who he believed was behind the alleged effort to malign Guteza, Defensor replied: “Well of course, si Cong. Zaldy Co. I’m sorry kaibigan ko siya pero ito para sa bansa ‘to. Itong mga nangyayari napakamali and syempre si Speaker Martin Romualdez. Ito naman yung dalawang taong binanggit niya eh.”
It was Defensor who introduced Guteza to Senate Deputy Minority Leader Rodante Marcoleta, who later presented him as a surprise witness before the Blue Ribbon Committee chaired by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson.
In his testimony before the Senate, Guteza claimed that he personally delivered suitcases containing ₱48 million in cash each to the residences of Co and Romualdez — money allegedly sourced from irregular flood control projects.
The controversy continues to unfold as lawmakers and investigators debate the authenticity of Guteza’s statements and the credibility of the evidence surrounding the massive corruption scandal.