Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez Reacts To Orly Guteza, Witness Presented by Sen. Marcoleta
MARTIN ROMUALDEZ – The Leyte Congressman junked the claims of Orly Guteza, the witness presented by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, that link him to the flood control mess.
Despite the creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, an independent probe team that President Bongbong Marcos ordered to be formed for the probe of the government’s infra projects, the Senate continued its investigation of the flood control mess. Recently, it held another hearing that invited several resource persons.
However, unexpectedly, a surprise witness was presented by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, the former chairman of the Blue Ribbbon Committee. The committee is now chaired by Sen. Ping Lacson following the Senate shakeup after some senators were linked to the issue.
Marcoleta presented Orly Guteza, a former marine who claimed that he is allegedly an ex-staff of Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co. The Representative is one of the government officials accused of allegedly receiving kickbacks from flood control projects.
During the latest Senate flood probe, Orly Guteza claimed that he is allegedly part of the team who delivers “basura” or kickback to Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co and then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez. According to him, the so-called “basura” is placed in luggages and they would usually make thre (3) deliveries in a week.
Based on a report on PhilStar, Guteza claimed that there were allegedly 46 luggages filled of money and they would deliver 11 luggages to Co and bring the rest to Romualdez. The former House Speaker denied the accusations of the witness presented by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta that link him to the issue.
In his statement, former House Speaker and Leyte Cong. Martin Romualdez junked the claims made by the witness presented by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta. According to him, it is allegedly a forced attempt to link him to the issue.
“The so-called testimony of Sen. Marcoleta’s witness is an outright and complete fabrication—nothing more than a desperate attempt to link me to supposed kickbacks where none exist. Pilit na pilit,” he said.
Cong. Martin Romualdez also claimed it is allegedly impossible for them to deliver to the property that was supposedly under renovation in 2024. According to him, “false in one thing, false in everything”.
“The most telling flaw is the witness’ claim that deliveries were made to McKinley beginning December 2024. Imposible iyan. That property has been under renovation since January 2024 and was unoccupied except for construction workers,” the Congressman said.
Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez reiterated that he has never received or benefited from kickbacks in any infra project of the government. Furthermore, he stressed that he has never authorized, ordered, or allowed anyone to engage in an activity that will taint his name nor betray the people.
Amid the issue, Pres. Bongbong Marcos asked the concerned agencies to make sure that the evidence is sufficient to hold all those involved in the flood control corruption accountable. He previously claimed that not even Romualdez, his cousin, nor his allies will be spared from the Senate flood probe.