Lawyer Petchie Rose Espera has firmly denied notarizing or preparing the affidavit presented Thursday at the Senate by Orly Regala Guteza, who claimed to be a former bodyguard of Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co and alleged delivering kickbacks from public works projects.
“I categorically deny notarizing, signing, or participating in the preparation of the said document. The signature and notarial details attributed to me are falsified and unauthorized,” Espera said in a letter to a news network, demanding that its social media post showing the affidavit be removed.
She added: “The use of my name and notarial commission in connection with said document is spurious, fraudulent, and injurious to my reputation as a member of the Bar and as a commissioned notary public.”
Guteza, a former Marine, read the affidavit before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, alleging that he delivered suitcases of “trash”—a code for cash—to the homes of Co and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. The affidavit was introduced by Senate Deputy Minority Leader Rodante Marcoleta, who said Guteza had been referred to him by former lawmaker Mike Defensor.
Both Marcoleta and Defensor were prominent figures in opposing ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal in 2020 during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.