Mike Defensor claims Orly Guteza made to recant testimony

Former Anakalusagan party-list representative Mike Defensor claimed Wednesday that Orly Guteza, a surprise witness in the Senate's probe into anomalous flood control projects, was made to recant his testimony linking former Speaker Martin Romualdez to the corruption. 

Defensor alleged that Guteza was pressured to withdraw his statements, but later said he did not know who made him recant.

"Talagang nangyari na napa-recant nila, pinapirma na nila ng ibang affidavit si Guteza," Defensor said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(It really happened that they were able to make him recant, and they already made Guteza sign a different affidavit.)

The former congressman also claimed that there was a video of Guteza allegedly saying that Defensor and Senator Rodante Marcoleta offered him money, denying his first testimony, and denying that he delivered money to Romualdez.

In September, Guteza claimed that he personally delivered suitcases of money to the residences of Co and Romualdez. 

GMA News Online is requesting comment from the Senate Blue Ribbon panel and its chairman, Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, regarding Defensor's statements on Guteza's affidavit. GMA News Online has also reached out to Marcoleta regarding the Guteza's supposed claim that the senator offered him money.

Where is Orly?

Meanwhile, Defensor said he does not know Guteza's current whereabouts.

"Ang nangyari sa ngayon, nagpapaabot lang ng mensahe 'yung pamilya. Pero as of now, matapos lumabas si Zaldy Co, doon sa part two niya, 'yung nagsasabi siya na 'yung sinasabi niya totoo 'yung… ni Guteza, magmula doon hindi na namin alam saan siya nagpunta, mukhang nawala na naman, itinago na naman," he added.

(What's happening now is that the family is only sending messages. But as of now, after Zaldy Co appeared, in his part two, where he said that what he stated about Guteza is true, from that point on, we no longer know where he went. It seems he disappeared again and was hidden again.)

Asked who is hiding Guteza, Defensor said he last heard that Guteza was with the intelligence group of the Marines, a claim that has been denied by the Philippine Navy. 

According to a Balitanghali report on Wednesday, Navy spokesperson Captain Marissa Martinez said Guteza was not seen during inspections at the headquarters of the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Marine Corps.

Meanwhile, Defensor said that he is not saying that the soldiers made Guteza recant his testimony, but later suggested that they may have been "ordered to" do so.

"Ang gagawa lang niyan 'yung makikinabang doon sa recantation niya. Hindi ko sinasabing ginawa ng mga sundalo ito. Napag-utusan din lang 'yang mga 'yan pero sigurado ako may nasa likod niyan na talagang ayaw 'yung naging testimony," he said.

(The only ones who would do that are those who would benefit from his recantation. I'm not saying the soldiers did this. They were just following orders, but I'm sure someone behind it really didn't want the testimony to stand.)

Defensor also said it was Guteza's family who informed him about the recantation.

However, he later said that he could not reveal how he and his team found out, but that they were sure.

The former congressman also said he and his camp have "hidden" Guteza's family.

"In connection to the retired marines na kasama niya, hindi ko alam kung nasaan sila ha, pero sinabi ko na itago na nila. So wala na sa bahay," he said.

(In connection to the retired marines who were with him. I don't know where they are, but I told them to hide already. So they're no longer at the house.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News