EXPLAINER: Who is Orly Guteza?

Orly Guteza made headlines anew after he recanted his statement that he delivered bags of cash to former Speaker Martin Romualdez.

But how did Guteza first draw national attention?

Guteza was first introduced to the public on September 25, 2025. He was Sen. Rondante Marcoleta’s surprise witness in the Blue Ribbon Committee’s probe into the anomalous flood control scam.

During the hearing, Guteza introduced himself as an ex-Marine and former security aide of former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co. In an affidavit, he claimed to have delivered bags of cash to Co and Romualdez's house.

He famously called these bags of cash “basura”.

“Ang bawat maleta ay may lamang humigit-kumulang P48 million. Ang bawat maleta ay may Post-it na nakadikit na nakasaad kung magkano ang laman ng bawat maleta,” Guteza said in 2025.

(Each piece of luggage contains about P48 million. Each bag has a Post-it attached to it which indicates how much money was inside.)

Guteza had claimed to deliver bags of cash to Co and Romualdez three times a week for several months.

It was eventually revealed that the signature on Guteza’s affidavit was not signed by the notary public whose name appeared on the document.

While the name of Atty. Petchie Rose Espera appeared on the affidavit, she denied signing and notarizing it.

Marcoleta would call this a notarization issue, insisting that Guteza is a victim.

Guteza would largely disappear from the public eye after the notarization issue. In April 2026, former House member Mike Defensor would mention Guteza, claiming that the former bodyguard was being forced to make a new affidavit saying that he did not deliver any money to Romualdez.

A few months later, in August, GMA News broke the story that Guteza recanted his accusations against Romualdez.

More than recanting his statement, however, Guteza accused Marcoleta and Defensor of bribing him to tag Romualdez in the flood control scheme.

In a new affidavit, Guteza said that he was instructed by Marcoleta and Defensor to read a fabricated affidavit. He had been promised money and educational scholarships for his child.

GMA News is trying to get comments from both Marcoleta and Defensor. –NB, GMA News