Imee says key witnesses in Senate flood control hearing may recant

Senator Imee Marcos on Wednesday floated the possibility that some witnesses presented in the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on anomalous flood control projects will recant their testimonies.

Marcos also implied that Orly Guteza, the "surprise witness" introduced in a flood control hearing on September 25 by Senator Rodante Marcoleta, may be among those who may take back their allegations against lawmakers and other personalities allegedly involved in the controversy. 

"Ang mangyayari ngayon, magre-recant ang mga testigo. Panoorin niyo, sigurado ako diyan. Isa-isa 'yan na biglang babaliktad dahil pinressure, tinakot ang pamilya, at halos tinutukan ang asawa at anak," the senator said in an ambush interview.

(What will happen now is that the witnesses will recant. Watch the hearing, I'm sure it will happen. There will be individuals who will suddenly recant because they were pressured, their families were threatened, and their wife and child were held at gunpoint.) 

Asked who these individuals are, Marcos said, "Eh alam na ninyo kung sino ang pinakamatindi ang testimonya."

(You already know who has the strongest testimony.) 

Members of the media pressed Marcos if she was referring to Guteza, who previously claimed that he personally delivered suitcases of money to the residences of her cousin, former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, and former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co. 

"Basta 'yun na 'yun. Abangan na lang ang susunod na kabanata," Marcos answered. 

(Just wait for the next chapter.) 

"Kasi pinakamabigat ang kanyang testimonya. Dahil du'n, may personal knowledge at matapang na ibinunyag ang lahat. Talaga naman, tinakot nang todo-todo ang mga pobreng testigo. Hindi tama itong gawain nila," she added. 

(His testimony carries the heaviest weight. Because of that, he has personal knowledge and he boldly revealed everything. The poor witnesses were really threatened. What they are doing is wrong.) 

She also claimed that some people who wanted to speak out regarding flood control anomalies were pressured to remain silent. 

Asked who were behind the alleged threatening of witnesses, she said, "Hindi ko alam. 'Yung mga kayang manakot at 'yung mga takot na takot na sila ang madadali."

(I don't know. These are those who have the capacity to threaten and those who are afraid to be implicated.) 

GMA News Online asked the office of Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, who chairs the blue ribbon committee, for comment on Marcos' statements, but he has yet to respond as of posting time. 

Romualdez as witness?

Marcos also alleged that Romualdez may be the "VIP" witness who is supposed to be presented in the next blue ribbon committee hearing scheduled on Friday, November 14.

She, however, said her cousin may no longer attend the hearing. 

"Nagbago ata ang isip [ni Romualdez], nahiya din sa sarili… Kasi ang dating narinig ko, magiging state witness, siya ang magiging star witness, bibigyan ng witness protection. Puwede ba naman 'yun? Niloko na tayo ng lubus-lubusan," Marcos said. 

(Perhaps Romualdez changed his mind. He finally got ashamed of himself... What I heard before was that he will be a state witness, a star witness, and he will be given witness protection. Should that happen? We have been completely fooled.) 

Lacson earlier said the blue ribbon committee invited a "very important" witness for the resumption of its probe on alleged anomalous flood control projects. 

Romualdez previously denied involvement in securing kickbacks from flood control projects as alleged by contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya during the Senate inquiry on the flood control mess.

He also denied similar allegations made by Guteza, who identified himself as a former security consultant for Co. — VDV, GMA Integrated News