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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcoleta: Guteza had nothing to gain, everything to lose in testifying

Marcoleta: Guteza had nothing to gain, everything to lose in testifying

Published Nov 4, 2025 12:29 pm

At A Glance

  • Senator Rodante Marcoleta questioned the motivation behind the allegation of falsification of documents being thrown against witness Orly Guteza, whose surprise testimony before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee in September implicated House Speaker Martin Romualdez and former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co in alleged cash deliveries.
Senator Rodante Marcoleta has questioned the motivation behind the allegation of falsification of documents being thrown against witness Orly Guteza, whose surprise testimony before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee in September implicated House Speaker Martin Romualdez and former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co in alleged cash deliveries.
Orly Regala Guteza, a former security aide of Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, stood before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Thursday, September 25, at the Session Hall in Pasay City, detailing the sizes of the cash-filled luggage he said he personally delivered to the residences of former House Speaker Ferdinand Romualdez and Rep. Co, during the inquiry into alleged irregularities in flood control projects. (Mark Balmores/Manila Bulletin)
Orly Regala Guteza, a former security aide of Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, stood before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Thursday, September 25, at the Session Hall in Pasay City, detailing the sizes of the cash-filled luggage he said he personally delivered to the residences of former House Speaker Ferdinand Romualdez and Rep. Co, during the inquiry into alleged irregularities in flood control projects. (Mark Balmores/Manila Bulletin)
In an interview on Bilyonaryo News Channel on Nov. 3, Marcoleta described Guteza as a credible and principled individual who had “nothing to gain” and “everything to lose” by coming forward with his accusations. The senator said he was saddened by how Guteza was being questioned, particularly over the notarization of his sworn statement.
“Nalulungkot ako kasi tignan mo na lang si Orly Guteza. Sa aking palagay ay isa siyang mabuting tao sapagkat nakita ko sa kanya ang paninindigan niya (I feel sad because just look at Orly Guteza. In my view, he is a good man, as I’ve seen his conviction). Orly Guteza is very credible. He has nothing to gain here; he has everything to lose,” Marcoleta said.
He dismissed suggestions that Guteza falsified the notarization of his statement, saying such claims were implausible because of the difficulty of faking the required seals and documentation.
“I don’t think he has the capacity to falsify. Saan siya kukuha ng stamp? Saan kukuha ng dry seal? Paano niya mahihiram ‘yung notarial register para makita niya kung ano ang number na ilalagay sa document, anong page number, anong book number? (Where would he get the stamp? Where would he get the dry seal? How would he borrow the notarial register to see what number to put on the document—what page number, what book number?)” He said.
Marcoleta also lamented what he called the commercialization of notarial services in the country, saying the practice had become routine and often handled by non-lawyers.
“Notary public services in this country have become a cottage industry,” he said.
“Lalong-lalo na sa mga areas na may city hall, municipal hall, di mo naman makikita ang abogado. Wala naman nagpapakita eh. And chances are ‘yung nag-notaryo na ‘yun, di nga niya pirma ‘yun (Especially in areas with a city hall or municipal hall, you won’t even see the lawyer. They don’t show up. And chances are, the one who did the notarization—that’s not even their signature),” he added.
The senator noted that the lawyer who notarized Guteza’s affidavit had passed the bar only in 2021 but was already on her eighth notarial register.
Marcoleta recounted that he had met Guteza shortly before the Blue Ribbon hearing and had asked former Quezon City Rep. Mike Defensor to help him have his statement notarized since the senator had to return to the Senate for a 3 p.m. session.
He added that Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, who is set to return as chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, monitored CCTV footage showing Guteza being fetched from the Senate guards’ area and escorted to Marcoleta’s office before the hearing.
“Kaya tinatanong ko lang, must a chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee tingnan pa niya sa CCTV kung sino mga pumupunta sa mga opisina namin? (That’s why I’m just asking—must the chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee still look at the CCTV to see who’s visiting our offices?) Can I also do the same to him?” Marcoleta said.
“I took offense because I don’t think this is the job of a senator, much less kung ano ang rapport niya sa kapwa niya senator (much less something that concerns his rapport with his fellow senators),” he added.
Marcoleta said he also heard that Lacson’s team checked CCTV footage at Seascape, a restaurant he mentioned visiting before meeting Guteza, apparently to verify timelines. The senator denied insinuations that he had orchestrated Guteza’s testimony, arguing that it would make little sense for the witness to fabricate the notarization details.
“Bakit niya gagawin ‘yun? Pinakamadali para sa kanya, magbayad lang siya kung magkano, P200, P300, up to P500 (Why would he do that? The easiest thing for him would be to just pay whatever the fee is—P200, P300, up to P500.) I think that’s the better and easier way to do this. Why would Guteza choose to do this in a different way?” he said.
Marcoleta’s defense of Guteza comes more than a month after the witness’s surprise appearance before the Blue Ribbon panel on September 25, where he claimed that he and several companions personally delivered suitcases of cash to the homes of Romualdez and Co.
The panel is expected to resume its inquiry into the alleged fund anomalies later this month.

Related Tags

rodante marcoleta ORLY GUTEZA Zaldy Co Martin Romualdez ping lacson Senate Blue Ribbon Committee
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