Ping Lacson Wants Full Record Check over “Totally Surprise Witness” Presented by Marcoleta

Sen. Ping Lacson Cites Need over Background Check of Sen. Marcoleta’s Witness Orly Guteza

PING LACSON – The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman wants a full record check of the “totally surprise witness” presented by Senator Rodante Marcoleta during a Senate hearing.

During the latest Senate flood probe, countless Filipinos including some senators were surprised by the appearance of a former marine who claimed that he worked for Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co, Orly Regala Guteza. In his testimony, Guteza claimed that they allegedly delivered suitcases filled with money to Co and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

According to presidential cousin and Leyte Congressman Martin Romualdez, the claims of “Sen. Marcoleta’s witness” is allegedly a “desperate attempt” to link him to the flood control issue. He reiterated his claim that he has allegedly not take kickback from any projects of the government.

Romualdez also claimed that Guteza’s testimony that they allegedly delivered suitcases filled with money to a property is supposedly impossible. According to the former House Speaker, the said property was under renovation in 2024.

The testimony of Orly Guteza sparked countless headlines and elicited various reactions. He was presented by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta during the Senate flood probe. Amid his heavy claims, Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Ping Lacson wants a full record check on the former marine who claims to have worked for Co.

Based on a report on Inquirer, Sen. Ping Lacson admitted that Orly Guteza’s appearance at the Senate flood investigation was really a total surprise. According to the Senate President Pro Tempore, even he who is chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee was not notified.

“Without the courtesy of notice even to the committee chairman, a totally surprise witness in yesterday’s Blue Ribbon hearing, a complete record check and background investigation on Orly Regala Guteza is in order owing to the gravity and seriousness of his testimony yesterday,” Lacson stated.

The office of Sen. Ping Lacson also stressed that the lawyer, Petchie Rose Espera, whose signature and notarial details appeared in the affidavit of Orly Guteza has also “denied notarizing and preparing” the document. Based on the report, the lawyer claimed that her signature and the other details were allegedly “falsified and unauthorized”.

Amid the latest additional accusations against him, Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co responded to the revocation of his travel clearance. House Speaker Bojie Dy revoked his travel clearance and ordered his immediate return to the country to face the accusations against him.