A retired Marine has formally recanted his previous testimony before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, asserting that he was manipulated and bribed into falsely accusing former House Speaker Martin Romualdez of receiving cash-filled suitcases.
In a newly filed affidavit, Orly Guteza claimed that Senator Rodante Marcoleta and former Anakalusugan Party-list Representative Mike Defensor persuaded him to fabricate his original claims during a September 24, 2025 meeting at a Pasay City restaurant.
According to Guteza, Defensor initially pressured him to implicate former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co, but later shifted the focus to Romualdez after Guteza denied witnessing any transactions involving Co.
”ITO NA YUNG MISSING LINK, NA HINAHANAP NATIN KASI PURO SILA ZALDY CO AT IKAW LANG MAKAKABANGIT KAY FORMER SPEAKER MARTIN NA NAGDEDELIVER NG PERA,” Guteza quoted Marcoleta as saying.
Guteza further alleged that Marcoleta dismissed using other potential witnesses due to their religious affiliations, stating:
”Di pwede si Paul at Mark kasi Iglesia matitiwalag yon.”
To secure his cooperation, Guteza stated that he was promised compensation and educational support for his four children. He alleged that Marcoleta assured him:
”babasahin mo lang yan at mababayaran ka naman.”
According to the new affidavit, Marcoleta edited the drafted document, instructed him to have it notarized, and ordered him to strictly adhere to the text during the hearing the following day.
”Tinuruan niya ako na kung anu lang ang nakalagay sa affidavit na ginawa ni Mark na asawa ng anak ni Former Congressman Mike Defensor ay yan lang magfocus,” Guteza stated, adding that he was later reprimanded by the lawmaker for deviating from the prepared script: “Napagalitan pa ako ni Sen Marcoleta kasi nag ‘ad lib’ ako at ang sabi ay sundan lang ang nakasulat.”
Guteza acknowledged that his original assertion—claiming he personally delivered cash-laden luggage to Romualdez’s Forbes Park residence on three separate occasions—was completely fabricated.
”Dala ng takot at pangamba lahat nang nakalahad sa affidavit na kanilang ginawa ay aking nasabi na nasaksihan ko kahit hindi ito totoo,” he stated.
“Dahil sa pera at edukasyon at ang pamimilit sa akin nina Sen Marcoleta at Former Congressman Mike Defensor na ikinatakot ko kaya napaniwala nila ako sa mapanlinlang na salita para gamitin sa pansarili nilang kapakanan.”
Expressing remorse over his involvement, Guteza noted that both key figures severed contact with him immediately following his testimony.
”Doon ko na tantsa na ginamit lang talaga nila ako, sapagkat huli na ang lahat na mga pangyayari at ako’y lubos na nagsisisi,” he added.
Guteza’s initial claims served as a focal point in the Senate’s investigation into alleged flood-control project irregularities. However, the integrity of his account unraveled after attorney Petchie Rose Espera disavowed notarizing his original affidavit, citing forged signatures.
The Manila Regional Trial Court subsequently confirmed that the document’s notarization was fraudulent, prompting instructions for the Department of Justice to investigate possible criminal falsification charges.
While Defensor previously asserted that Guteza was coerced into withdrawing his original statements, and Marcoleta characterized the former serviceman as a victim, Guteza’s latest sworn statement directly accuses both figures of orchestration, concluding with an affirmation that his recantation was executed voluntarily.