Guteza withdraws allegations vs Romualdez, dealing blow to Ombudsman complaint

Former security aide of Rep. Zaldy Co, Orly Guteza (R), testifies at the Senate hearing on flood project anomalies, on September 25, 2025. Senate Social Media Unit (1st UPDATE) Former Marine Orly Guteza alleges that he was coerced by Senator Rodante Marcoleta and former congressman Mike Defensor to falsely implicate Martin Romualdez in a kickback scheme Former Marine Orly Guteza has retracted his allegations against former speaker Martin Romualdez, undermining the Ombudsman's case against him. Guteza claimed he was coerced by Senator Rodante Marcoleta and former congressman Mike Defensor to falsely implicate Romualdez in a budget kickback scheme. His recantation follows similar withdrawals by other witnesses and is significant for the ongoing investigation into alleged corruption linked to Romualdez. This is AI-generated. Read the article for full context. Report any errors. MANILA, Philippines – Former Marine Orly Guteza, who once implicated former speaker Martin Romualdez in the public works corruption scandal, has withdrawn his allegations against the President’s cousin, dealing a huge blow to the case build-up of the Ombudsman against him. Based on a copy of his sworn statement first reported by GMA News on Wednesday, August 19, Guteza, a former security aide of former congressman Zaldy Co, alleged that he had been persuaded by Senator Rodante Marcoleta and former congressman Mike Defensor — both under detention over plunder charges — to link Romualdez to the budget kickback scheme. Guteza said he met with the two politicians at a Japanese restaurant in Pasay on September 24, 2025, a day before his appearance at the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing then chaired by Marcoleta. Guteza said that despite telling Defensor that he had no knowledge of supposed cash-filled luggage deliveries to Valle Verde, he had been persuaded by the former lawmaker to say otherwise. Defensor’s son-in-law Mark supposedly prepared the affidavit during that meeting. “Out of fear and apprehension, everything stated in the affidavit they prepared was something I said I had witnessed, even though it was not true, including the claim that I was involved in the three deliveries of suitcases to the alleged residence of (Martin Romualdez) at Forbes Park,” Guteza claimed in Filipino. Guteza alleged that he was promised a reward of P150 million, on top of scholarships for his children. “I was extremely confused during that time. Even while I was driving, I would talk to my wife and ask for her forgiveness because I had been swayed by the sweet promises of Defensor and Marcoleta, which led me to allow myself to be used extensively,” Guteza added. Guteza is a crucial puzzle piece in the Ombudsman’s case build-up. His testimony has been cited to establish an alleged kickback scheme involving the deliveries of wads of cash tucked inside suitcases from Co’s properties to Romualdez’s properties. The supplemental complaint of the Ombudsman explicitly names Guteza as among the personnel who delivered cash-filled luggages from Co’s unit at Horizon Homes to Romualdez’s residence at 42 Mckinley. His recantation came more than two weeks after four of the 18 so-called “maleta boys” did the same. The Ombudsman complaint is the foundation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s statement during his State of the Nation Address, when he said his cousin was set to be charged in relation to the biggest scandal faced by his administration. Downplay In a statement Thursday, August 20, the Ombudsman downplayed the recantation, and said it has 28 other witnesses — uniformed personnel in active service — ready to testify against Romualdez. “This is a classic pressure tactic. The entire investigation does not revolve around one or a few witnesses,” the Office of the Ombudsman said. “The search for truth will not stop even if anyone does not want to speak.” Romualdez’s lawyer Ade Fajarda, in a press conference also on Thursday, said new supplemental evidence to be submitted to the Ombudsman would include sworn statements of 25 former aides of Co, challenging the claims of the so-called “maleta boys.” “We reject any insinuation that we have anything to do with the recantations of the witnesses,” Fajardo said. – Rappler.com How does this make you feel? Loading