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Designated bodyguard and driver Orly Guteza answers questions during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged anomalous flood control projects at the Senate plenary hall in Pasay City on September 25, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News



Article (news)

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATED)</strong> — Flood-control corruption whistleblower Orly Guteza is not under the protection of the Philippine Marine Corps, the Philippine Navy said Thursday after former Anakaslusugan Rep. Mike Defensor that he is.</p><p>The Marines are the Navy&#x27;s infantry force and are under its command.</p><div><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"><strong>Surprise whistleblower Orly Guteza in custody of Marines, says ex-Rep. Defensor</strong></a></div><p>In a statement, Capt. Marissa Martinez, Navy spokesperson, said Guteza retired from the corps in June 2020 and &quot;no longer falls under the administrative authority of the Philippine Navy.&quot;</p><p>She said that &quot;any engagements or interactions he may have at present are undertaken in his personal capacity.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/29/can-marcoleta-be-held-liable-over-surprise-witness-falsified-notary-doj-weighs-in-1225"><strong>Can Marcoleta be held liable over surprise witness&#x27; falsified notary? DOJ weighs in</strong></a></div><p>Martinez stressed that Guteza is not under the protection of the Philippine Marine Corps and that the Navy has &quot;no involvement in his personal affairs.&quot;</p><p>She added the Navy is &quot;a professional and non-partisan organization&quot; that is focused on national defense.</p><p>The Navy’s statement came after Defensor claimed that Guteza — recently identified as a “surprise whistleblower” in Senate investigations — was in the custody or protection of the Marines. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/29/nbi-awaits-invite-to-present-guteza-affidavit-forgery-findings-0721"><strong>NBI awaits invite to present Guteza affidavit forgery findings</strong></a></div><p>Defensor, who gave no evidence of his claim, said Guteza had sought safety among “fellow ex-Marines” following the controversy surrounding his testimony.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>BRAWNER: STAFF CHECKING ON DEFENSOR&#x27;S CLAIM</strong></div><p>Gen. Romeo Brawner, armed forces chief of staff, told reporters in Malaysia Thursday that he had directed his staff to look into the claim that Guteza is in the custody of the Marines.</p><p>“Dahil wala na tayong control over him, kung nandun nga talaga and hindi naman active po ‘yung kumakanlong sa kanya, we will still convince him, si Guteza, to come out and to testify further kung kinakailangan,” he said.</p><p>(Since we no longer have control over him, if he really is with the Marines, and he is not with active duty personnel, we will still convince him to come out and testify further if necessary)</p><p>Brawner stressed that he has no personal knowledge that Guteza is really with the Marines as Defensor claims.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SENATE TESTIMONY</strong></div><p>Guteza, a retired Marine and former security consultant, surfaced in September before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.</p><p>In his affidavit and testimony, he alleged that he personally delivered cash-filled suitcases to the homes of then House Speaker Martin Romualdez and then Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co in connection with alleged irregularities in flood-control projects.</p><p>Defensor said Guteza has declined to enter the government’s witness protection program.</p><p>However, questions have since emerged over the authenticity of Guteza’s sworn affidavit.</p><p>A Manila Regional Trial Court found that the lawyer whose signature appeared on the document denied notarizing it.</p><p>Senate officials have said the issue of notarization could affect the affidavit’s validity but not necessarily invalidate Guteza’s oral testimony before the committee.</p><p>As for reports of an alleged ambush involving Guteza, Captain Martinez said the Navy has no information about such an incident.</p><p>She added that the matter should be referred to the Philippine National Police for proper investigation. <strong>— with Harlene Delgado, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><br/></div><div> <strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></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>Capt. Marissa Martinez stressed that Guteza is not under the protection of the Philippine Marine Corps and that the Navy has "no involvement in his personal affairs."</p>

Capt. Marissa Martinez stressed that Guteza is not under the protection of the Philippine Marine Corps and that the Navy has "no involvement in his personal affairs."

Navy: Whistleblower Guteza is not in Marine custody

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Navy: Whistleblower Guteza is not in Marine custody

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 30, 2025 12:24 PM PHT

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Updated October 30, 2025 03:20 PM PHT

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Philippine Navy

Orly Guteza

Philippine Marine Corps

Mike Defensor

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