Metro Manila, Philippines – Detained Senator Rodante Marcoleta said he is standing by witness Orly Guteza’s earlier testimony alleging the delivery of kickbacks from flood control projects to key government officials, and that the recantation was forced by threats against his family.
Marcoleta presented Guteza as a surprise witness during a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing in September 2025. He testified under oath that he delivered suitcases of cash to then-House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, then-appropriations committee chairman and now fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co, and other government officials.
“My respect for MSgt Guteza has not been diminished by the release of his completely different statement on August 19, 2026. It was unsurprisingly expected as it was obviously understandable given the ordeal he was subjected to,” Marcoleta said in a statement on Friday, August 28.
Marcoleta’s staff shared the statement on social media as the senator remains detained on plunder charges over a campaign donation.
“First, while the written and verbal testimony of MSgt Guteza on September 25, 2025 was a detailed account of his personal knowledge of the plunderous acts of former Speaker Romualdez, et al., the other statement attributed to Guteza only asserts a general denial, one which contains no evidentiary value… especially when compared to a detailed account of personal knowledge by the same witness,” Marcoleta said.
He described Guteza’s recantation as a “spurious statement” containing implausible details. For instance, Marcoleta said it was impossible for him, then a stranger to Guteza, to vet him and, together with former Rep. Mike Defensor, plan the massive transport of money during a one-hour meeting at a restaurant.
“Meanwhile, it is more believable that the threats to the life and/or liberty of his wife and children forced Guteza to sign an outrageous statement,” the senator said.
Marcoleta noted that a November 2025 call between Guteza and his wife already showed that, after his Senate testimony, he was held in custody by people he did not identify and allegedly forced to accuse Marcoleta and Defensor of bribery to spare his family from danger.
“‘[H]is wife admitted that indeed their family was being subjected to threats by the same persons restricting his movement and liberty,” Marcoleta said.
The Office of the Ombudsman earlier said recantations in the flood control investigation would not stop the probe, noting that it has 28 witnesses who are uniformed personnel in active service in the case against Romualdez.
Romualdez, meanwhile, said the recantations should be considered, particularly because the case against him remains at the pre-trial stage.
