PH Navy denies Orly Guteza illegally held by Marines

The Philippine Navy on Tuesday denied that Orly Guteza, a witness in the Senate's flood control projects corruption probe, was illegally held by the Philippine Marine Corps.

In a press briefing, Navy spokesperson Captain Marissa Martinez dismissed the claim of former Anakalusagan Partylist Representative Mike Defensor last Monday. 

“The family did not contact anyone from the Philippine Marine Corps nor the Navy. It was counter-checked by our intelligence units,” Martinez said. 

“It was comprehensively done. It was validated, it was checked, inspected, and there were interviews also being conducted. Not only by the people that were tasked to do it, but also our intelligence units,” he added. 

Guteza was introduced in a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on September 25 by Senator Rodante Marcoleta, who said the man reached out to him through the help of Defensor.

Defensor on Monday said Guteza was allegedly being detained by the intelligence arm of the Marines. The former soldier was initially taken for his safety but was later held allegedly against his will, according to Defensor.

On September 30, Defensor initially said Guteza was under the protection of the latter's fellow ex-Marines. This was denied by the Philippine Navy. 

Asked if the Philippine Navy plans to take legal action on such claims, Martinez said the military will address only active personnel. 

“For the Philippine Navy, I would want to focus on the active personnel who are spreading false information,” she said. 

“But if there would be misinformation from the outside source first, we have a process to do that and we have certain agencies that would be conducting such verification and validation,” she added.

In a Senate hearing, Guteza claimed that he is a former security consultant for former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, and that he personally delivered suitcases of money to the residences of Co and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez. —VAL, GMA Integrated News