Sen. Erwin Tulfo on Thursday, Aug. 20, said he would leave it to the Office of the Ombudsman to determine whether flood control mess witness Orly Guteza should face charges after recanting his earlier testimony on alleged cash deliveries to politicians.

Tulfo, who chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, said the panel welcomed Guteza's decision to retract his previous statements, which he described as false and damaging to several people who were allegedly implicated in his testimony.

“Ako’y, nagpapasalamat naman nahimasmasan sila at nagsabi sila ng totoo (I’m thankful that they came to their senses and told the truth),” Tulfo said in a DZBB interview.

He said the Ombudsman should determine whether Guteza committed perjury, particularly since the anti-graft body is already handling the broader investigation into alleged irregularities in flood control projects.

Tulfo said having the Blue Ribbon Committee conduct its own investigation into Guteza's recantation would only delay the proceedings because any findings would eventually have to be referred to the Ombudsman for prosecution.

“It's a waste of time,” Tulfo said, noting that the Senate committee had already turned over documents concerning the flood control controversy to the Ombudsman.

Guteza's surprise appearance before a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Sept. 25, 2025 drew attention after he claimed that he and several companions personally delivered suitcases containing cash to the residences of Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez and then-Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co.

Guteza's latest recantation also included allegations that former congressman Mike Defensor and Sen. Rodante Marcoleta had encouraged him to give the false testimony.

Tulfo said those allegations further strengthen the case for the Ombudsman to take over the matter, noting that the anti-graft body had previously filed cases against Defensor and Marcoleta.

“If there is perjury or being an accomplice or lying by a witness, all the more it should be the Ombudsman that handles it,” Tulfo said.

Meanwhile, Tulfo said the Blue Ribbon Committee's membership is nearly complete following the entry of Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano. He said the panel was still awaiting representation for the social justice panel.

Tulfo said he would convene the committee to determine its next course of action.

He said the panel may focus on investigating allegedly substandard roads and bridges, while leaving the flood control-related cases to the Ombudsman to expedite the prosecution of government officials who may be held responsible.

For Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, Guteza's recantation doesn't come as a surprise.

Lacson was the head of the blue ribbon panel when Guteza made his previous statements.

"Since on record naman sa hearing ng Blue Ribbon Committee na coached witness ni Sen Marcoleta si Guteza at naka live pa nga, hindi na surprising na babaliktad siya balang araw (Since it’s already on record during the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing that Guteza was a coached witness of Sen. Marcoleta, and it was even aired live, it’s no longer surprising that he would eventually recant)," he said.