Lawyer insists 'fake' Guteza affidavit holds no value in flood control probe

The lawyer whose name and signature appeared on the alleged falsified sworn statement of "surprise witness" Orly Guteza said Thursday the documents presented by the latter before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee have no legislative purpose and offer no value to the investigation on the anomalous flood control projects.

In a statement given to GMA Integrated News' Joseph Morong, Atty. Petchie Rose Espera said there were two falsified documents attributed to her and presented to the blue ribbon panel—one of which was the controversial affidavit of Guteza where he claimed that he personally delivered suitcases of money to the residences of former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co and former Speaker Martin Romualdez, the incumbent representative of Leyte's 1st District.

Espera maintained that the signature attributed to her on the affidavit is not hers, and that the document number, page number, and book number shown in the document do not exist in her notarial records.

She also noted that the document stamp, its size, features, and the professional and personal data on the affidavit are "entirely fabricated," and that the notarial office attributed to her law practice during the blue ribbon hearing is "not my office, and has never been my office."

The second fake document, she said, was supposedly executed by an officer of Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) and was presented in a subsequent hearing. 

"This can no longer be dismissed as mere coincidence. It reflects a disturbing and unmistakable pattern of patronizing falsity and weaponizing fabricated documents within the nation's most respected legislative body," Espera said. 

"The repeated insertion of falsified documents and the unfounded allegations directed at me serve no legislative purpose, offer no value to the inquiry into flood control issues, and instead undermine the dignity of the proceedings. These acts divert the Committee from its true mandate and erode public trust in the very processes meant to uphold transparency and accountability," she added. 

GMA News Online has reached out to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and its chairman, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, regarding received submissions of Guteza's affidavits.

Espera said she would pursue all appropriate legal remedies and processes available under the law not only to defend her name, but to protect the integrity of the notarial practice and ensure accountability for the use of falsified documents in official proceedings.

"In a time when misinformation spreads quickly and truth is often distorted, I call on the public to exercise discernment and wisdom. Let us uphold truth so that justice may prevail. May we be reminded that actions and words lose all value when they are not grounded in honesty, fairness, and good intention," the lawyer said. 

To recall, Guteza was introduced in the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on September 25 by Senator Rodante Marcoleta, saying the former reached out to him through the help of erstwhile Anakalusagan party-List representative Mike Defensor.

Guteza claimed that he is a former security consultant for Co, and that each luggage of money he delivered to the residences of Co and Romualdez contained about P48 million.

Both Co and Romualdez have denied the allegations. 

Lacson previously said the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) found that the signature on Guteza's affidavit was fake. 

He said that although Guteza's sworn statement in the flood control hearing remained "valid," there is still an issue of credibility since he supposedly lied when he claimed that Espera notarized his affidavit. — VDV, GMA Integrated News