Ched Rick Gatchalian

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, May 1, 2025. Handout/Lacson media team

 

Article (news)

Lacson slams claim secret whistleblower Guteza is in Marine's custody

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1761804069716Screenshot 2025-10-30 140055.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sen. Panfilo Lacson, May 1, 2025. <em>Handout/Lacson media team</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping&quot; Lacson did not mince words as he slammed a false claim that Orly Guteza, presented as a witness at a Senate hearing, is in the custody of the Philippine Marine Corps.</p><p>In a release, Lacson said he checked with Maj. Gen. Vince Blanco, Marine commandant, and found that Guteza &quot;is not and has never been&quot; in their custody.</p><p>Lacson found out that the whistleblower was never under the Marines&#x27; custody through a verification with Philippine Marines commandant Maj. Gen. Vincent Blanco III.</p><p>“How much more fakery can we take?” the senator stressed.</p><p>Former Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor alleged without evidence on Wedensday that<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/29/surprise-whistleblower-orly-guteza-in-custody-of-marines-says-ex-rep-defensor-2027"> Guteza is staying at the Philippine Marines&#x27; compound</a> since he testified in a Senate hearing.</p><p>The Philippine Navy also said Thursday that<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/30/navy-whistleblower-guteza-is-not-in-marine-custody-1224"> Guteza is not under Marines&#x27; protection</a>, adding he had already retired from the corps in June 2020 and &quot;no longer falls under the administrative authority of the Philippine Navy.&quot;</p><p>The whistleblower produced by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta had introduced himself as a former staff of resigned Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and had claimed that he delivered suitcases of money to the homes of Co and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.</p><p>Both have denied the claims, with Romualdez adding he could not have received money from Guteza at a residence that has been under renovation since January 2024.</p><p><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/26/personal-assistants-of-co-s-family-dispute-orly-guteza-s-claim-2012">Two personal assistants to the Co family have also refuted Guteza&#x27;s claim</a>, adding he was hired as a personal assistant and not a security consultant.</p><p>Marcoleta presented Guteza to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on September 25 and said Defensor had referred the witness to him.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>INCONSISTENT SIGNATURE</strong></div><p>Lacson brought up a Manila court&#x27;s ruling which found that the &quot;signature in Guteza’s notarized affidavit [was] inconsistent with that of lawyer Petchie Espera.&quot;</p><p>Espera earlier denied signing Guteza&#x27;s sworn statement which prompted an investigation after she filed an incident report.</p><p>&quot;The Executive Judge recommended that Guteza and those responsible for presenting his affidavit undergo preliminary investigation for falsification,&quot; Lacson said.</p><p>The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) earlier said the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 18 <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/29/nbi-awaits-invite-to-present-guteza-affidavit-forgery-findings-0721">ordered the agency to examine the document</a>. It said it will wait for an invitation from the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to present its findings.</p><p>For Lacson, while Guteza&#x27;s statement remains valid, &quot;the development may affect his credibility.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p1Hg76qXCg8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eS0FvOI80hw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>In a release, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping" Lacson said he found out that the whistleblower was never under the Marines' custody through a verification with Philippine Marines commandant Maj. Gen. Vincent Blanco III.</p>

In a release, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping" Lacson said he found out that the whistleblower was never under the Marines' custody through a verification with Philippine Marines commandant Maj. Gen. Vincent Blanco III.

'How much more fakery can we take?': Lacson refutes claim Marines have custody of whistleblower Guteza

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'How much more fakery can we take?': Lacson refutes claim Marines have custody of whistleblower Guteza

Ched Rick Gatchalian,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 30, 2025 02:14 PM PHT

|

Updated Oct 30, 2025 04:11 PM PHT

Read More:

Ping Lacson

Orly Guteza

Secret whistleblower

Senate

Senate Blue Ribbon Committee

Flood control

Forgery

Rodante Marcoleta

Philippine Marines

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