he camp of former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said it had no involvement in the reported recantation of Orly Guteza, a former driver-bodyguard of former Rep. Elizaldy Co.
Romualdez’s camp announced that it will file a supplemental counter-affidavit with the Office of the Ombudsman containing sworn statements from 25 former drivers and bodyguards of Co.
Atty. Ade Fajardo, spokesperson for Romualdez, said during a press briefing that Guteza’s reported recantation will also be included in the documents to be submitted to the Ombudsman.
Fajardo said the statements of the 25 individuals directly contradicted the earlier statements of 18 people referred to as the “Maleta Boys.”
According to Fajardo, the 25 former drivers and bodyguards denied delivering money to Romualdez or to any politician or government official.
He also said the individuals were allegedly encouraged to join a group of witnesses in exchange for money and that affidavits had already been prepared for them.
Fajardo further said Guteza’s statement described how he was allegedly pressured to accept and sign accusations against Romualdez to make him a “missing link” in the case.
The Romualdez camp maintained that the former speaker had no involvement in the allegations.
The supplemental counter-affidavit is expected to contain the sworn statements of the 25 former Co driver-bodyguards, along with Guteza’s reported recantation.
The filing comes amid conflicting statements from former associates of Co regarding allegations against Romualdez.
According to Fajardo, the 25 individuals’ accounts dispute the earlier claims made by the 18 “Maleta Boys.”
The Romualdez camp said the statements also support its position that the former speaker had no connection to the allegations.
Guteza’s reported recantation will form part of the documents that the camp intends to submit to the Ombudsman.
The claims concerning pressure on Guteza and the alleged offers of money are contained in the statements described by Fajardo during the press briefing.
The Ombudsman is the office where Romualdez’s camp plans to submit its supplemental counter-affidavit and the accompanying sworn statements.
