The camp of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez questioned the credibility of Orly Guteza’s earlier statements even before he recanted his allegations against Romualdez.
According to Romualdez’s camp, the Manila Regional Trial Court found Guteza’s affidavit submitted to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigation to be fake because the signature of the recorded notary was allegedly falsified.
The camp also cited the statements of Mark Bunagan and Allan Colesio, two former aides of Zaldy Co, who denied Guteza’s claim that they could confirm the alleged delivery of money.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Ombudsman said Guteza’s recantation, as well as those of former Zaldy Co bodyguards, does not automatically erase his earlier statements.
The Ombudsman said its investigation into the complaints involving Romualdez remains ongoing.
The complaints include plunder, graft, bribery and money laundering.
Romualdez’s camp has used the alleged falsification of Guteza’s affidavit and the denials from Bunagan and Colesio to challenge the credibility of his earlier account.
Despite the recantation, the Ombudsman said Guteza’s previous statements remain part of the matters being considered in its investigation.
The agency continues to investigate the complaints against Romualdez, including the allegations of plunder, graft, bribery and money laundering.
