Mike Defensor presents Orly Guteza 'recording' on forced denial of cash deliveries

Former AnaKalusugan party-list Representative Mike Defensor on Wednesday presented a supposed audio recording of "surprise witness" Orly Guteza, saying the latter was forced to say that he did not bring money to former Speaker and incumbent Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez.

At the Pandesal news forum, Defensor played an alleged audio clip of Guteza supposedly speaking to his wife about the matter last year. It was Guteza's wife who allegedly made the recording.

According to Defensor, Guteza told his wife that he was being made to read a new affidavit stating that he did not bring cash to the former Speaker.

GMA News Online could not independently verify the authenticity of the audio clip presented.

Defensor also presented a copy of the Ombudsman's complaint against Romualdez to be filed before the Sandiganbayan in relation to the multi-billion peso flood control scandal.

The yet-to-be filed complaint supposedly cites Guteza's affidavit.

"Binigyang diin at sinabing tama at ginamit ang affidavit ni Sergeant Guteza, andito po. Sinasabi nila (Ombudsman) 'yung sinabi ni Guteza na nag-deliver ng 46 luggagea, dineliver sa bahay ni Speaker Martin Romualdez, kasama sa affidavit," Defensor said.

(The complaint stressed and said that the affidavit of Sergeant Guteza, was correct. What Guteza claimed that he delivered 46 luggage to the home of Speaker Martin Romualdez, is included in the affidavit.)

Ombudsman's complaint

Defensor added that the Ombudsman's complaint indicated that the individuals claiming the delivery of huge amounts of cash to Romualdez serve no personal interests.

He was referring to Guteza and at least two members of the 18 alleged former Marines, who alleged that several individuals received cash from former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co, a key figure in the flood control scandal.

"Ang mga taong ito, katulad ng sinasabi namin dati, walang personal na interes. They have no interest. In fact they are subjecting themselves to personal danger," he said.

(These people, as we have said before, have no personal interest. In fact, they are subjecting themselves to personal danger.)The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is investigating the credibility and claims of the 18 alleged former Marines. Defensor has admitted helping them, but denied any role in preparing their affidavits.

Calling on the Ombudsman

Defensor called on Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla to grant Guteza protective custody."Bilang panawagan na rin muli sa ating gobyerno, partikular kay Ombudsman Boying Remulla. Na ginamit na niya 'yung affidavit ni Sergeant Guteza. Nananawagan ako na tulungan na," Defensor said.

(I call again on our government, especially to Ombudsman Boying Remulla, to help Sergeant Guteza since he has already used Sergeant Guteza's affidavit.)

"Pero ngayon naman na ginamit na ng gobyerno 'yung kaniyang affidavit. Sana naman, again apela kay Ombudsman Remulla, bigyan ng protective custody. Hanapin at bigyan ng pagtatanggol, seguridad si Sergeant Guteza at ang kaniyang pamilya," Defensor added.

(But now that the government has used his affidavit. Hopefully, again I appeal to Ombudsman Remulla, give Guteza protective custody. Find and provide protection and security to Sergeant Guteza and his family.)

GMA News Online reached out to Remulla for comment but he has yet to reply as of posting time.Guteza had claimed that he personally delivered suitcases of money to the residences of Romualdez and resigned Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co.

He was introduced in a flood control hearing on September 25 by Senator Rodante Marcoleta, through the help of Defensor.Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson said resource persons who were issued show cause orders by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee—but failed to attend the flood control hearings—may be cited in contempt, including Guteza.

'Telling flaw'

Romualdez, in September 2025, called Guteza's allegations "falsehoods."

"I was deeply surprised to hear the allegation raised against me today before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee— that several pieces of luggage supposedly containing money were ever delivered to a residence associated with me," Romualdez said in a statement following Guteza's testimony.

"The so-called testimony of Senator (Rodante) Marcoleta’s witness is an outright and complete fabrication—nothing more than a desperate attempt to link me to supposed kickbacks where none exist. Pilit na pilit," he added.

The Leyte congressman, cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., cited a "telling flaw" in the testimony of the witness, who claimed that deliveries were made to his McKinley home in Makati City beginning December 2024.

"That's impossible. That property has been under renovation since January 2024 and was unoccupied except for construction workers. Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus —false in one thing, false in everything," he said.

"This is clearly political and the product of coaching. I will not allow these perjurious statements to pass unchallenged. Hindi ko ito palalampasin (I will not let this pass)," he added. — VDV/NB, GMA News