Senator Rodante Marcoleta on Friday, August 28, defended Master Sergeant Orly Guteza following the release of a statement attributed to the military witness that contradicted his previous testimony before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee in September 2025.

In a statement, Marcoleta said Guteza had acted with honor when he appeared before the committee on September 25, 2025, where he narrated what he claimed was his personal knowledge regarding the alleged involvement of then-Speaker Martin Romualdez, former Representative Zaldy Co, and others in the alleged misuse of billions of pesos intended for flood control projects.

“He summoned his civic duty to protect the interest of every Filipino by presenting himself to the BRC for scrutiny — not only of his personal knowledge as a witness but also his integrity as a soldier,” Marcoleta said.

“It was all valor when he exposed the plunder of the people's money despite the risk to his personal safety and freedom,” he added.

Marcoleta said his respect for Guteza had not diminished despite the witness issuing a different statement on August 19, 2026, which appeared to retract or contradict portions of his earlier testimony.

According to Marcoleta, a publicly authenticated video of a conversation between Guteza and his wife in November 2025 had already raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the witness after his Senate testimony.

Marcoleta claimed that Guteza was subsequently placed virtually incommunicado and held under the custody of individuals whose identities, he said, were known only to the military sergeant. He further alleged that Guteza was forced to sign and read a different statement denying his earlier claims and accusing Marcoleta and former Representative Mike Defensor of orchestrating his testimony in exchange for money.

Marcoleta said Guteza repeatedly told his wife that the statement was not his, but that he had signed it because he feared for his family’s safety. He also pointed to his wife’s alleged admission that their family had been subjected to threats.

In questioning the credibility of the new statement attributed to Guteza, Marcoleta argued that it lacked the detail found in the witness’ original testimony.

“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,” Marcoleta said.

Citing People v. Manlapaz, G.R. No. 254747, July 13, 2022, Marcoleta argued that the alleged general denial carries little evidentiary value when weighed against a detailed account based on personal knowledge.

He also challenged what he described as the physical and psychological improbability of the account contained in the new statement.

Marcoleta said it was unlikely that he could have conspired with Guteza, whom he described as a complete stranger at the time, and quickly developed enough trust to obtain and rewrite a detailed account of the alleged movement of money.

“It is improbable for myself and Rep. Defensor to concoct a detailed account of the massive transport of money in luggages within one (1) hour in a restaurant,” Marcoleta said.

He maintained that the circumstances described in the newer statement were less plausible than his claim that threats against Guteza’s wife and children may have compelled him to sign a statement.

Marcoleta concluded by saying the developments should strengthen efforts to establish accountability and recover public funds allegedly lost through corruption.

“Rather than feel dismay and defeat by the situation of Guteza, and the millions of our countrymen who suffer repression for seeking accountability and justice, we must strenghten our resolve not only to identify those who robbed the people’s money without remorse but also to recover every bit of it,” he said.

The allegations raised by Marcoleta, as well as Guteza’s earlier testimony and subsequent statement, remain matters subject to investigation and verification by the appropriate authorities.