Former soldier and former security aide to Zaldy Co, Orly Guteza, has withdrawn his earlier claim that he delivered suitcases of money to former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
In a new affidavit, Guteza allegedly said he was instructed by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and former Rep. Mike Defensor to make allegations against Romualdez in exchange for money and scholarships for his children.
Guteza reportedly said he later realized that he had been used and regretted his actions.
The Office of the Ombudsman is awaiting Guteza’s new affidavit before issuing a statement.
The development follows Guteza’s earlier allegations involving alleged deliveries of suitcases containing money to Romualdez. His latest affidavit reverses those previous statements.
The Ombudsman described Guteza’s recantation as a “classic pressure tactic,” according to the information provided.
The counsel for the former Marines, Atty. Levito Baligod, had also said his clients were offered millions of pesos to withdraw their testimonies.
Despite Guteza’s recantation, the Ombudsman said it has 28 more witnesses against Romualdez in connection with the flood-control corruption case.
Guteza is not the only former security aide of Co to have withdrawn earlier statements. Four other former security aides of Co have also recanted their previous statements against Romualdez and other personalities.
The latest development adds another turn to the ongoing controversy surrounding allegations linked to the flood-control case.
The Ombudsman has yet to issue a formal statement on Guteza’s new affidavit while it awaits the document.
The conflicting statements have placed renewed attention on the testimonies of former security aides and the allegations involving Romualdez.
Guteza’s latest affidavit now disputes his earlier account, while the Ombudsman maintains that other witnesses remain involved in the case.
The claims involving Marcoleta and Defensor are contained in Guteza’s new affidavit and remain part of the ongoing controversy.
