Jamaine Punzalan

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

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SENATE PROBE- FLOOD CONTROL ANOMALIES

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/175884947163620250925-senate-flood-control-probe-orly-guteza-JC3321 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">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</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson on Friday said a full record check and background investigation (RCBI) was needed for &quot;surprise witness&quot; Orly Regala Guteza. </p><p>Guteza, who claimed to be a former Marine and Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co’s ex-security consultant, told the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Thursday he was ordered in various instances to deliver &quot;basura&quot; (trash) or <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/25/lawyers-says-she-did-not-notarize-sworn-statement-of-zaldy-co-s-former-consultant-2353">suitcases containing money</a> to the homes of the lawmaker and then House Speaker Martin Romualdez. </p><p>Lacson noted that Guteza was presented before the committee “without even the courtesy of notice.”</p><p>The senator also noted that the lawyer whose signature and notarial details appeared in Guteza&#x27;s affidavit <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/25/lawyers-says-she-did-not-notarize-sworn-statement-of-zaldy-co-s-former-consultant-2353">denied preparing the document.</a></p><p>&quot;Without the courtesy of notice even to the committee chairman, a totally surprise witness in yesterday’s Blue Ribbon hearing, a complete record check and background investigation on Orly Regala Guteza is in order owing to the gravity and seriousness of his testimony yesterday,&quot; Lacson said in a post on X.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>AFFIDAVIT </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Under Senate rules on inquiries in aid of legislation, all witnesses at executive sessions or public hearings should testify under oath or affirmation.</p><p>The rules add that any witness desiring to make a prepared or written statement for the record shall file a copy of the statement with the Committee Secretary not less than 24 hours in advance of the hearing at which the statement is to be presented.</p><p>Before he began his testimony at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Thursday,  Guteza took an oath to tell the truth.</p><p>Guteza, in response to Marcoleta, later maintained he had his sworn statement notarized.</p><p>&quot;Ito po ay pinanotaryo ninyo, nakikita ko rin po. Totoo po ba itong notaryong ito?&quot; Marcoleta said.</p><p>&quot;Totoo po, Your Honor,&quot; Guteza said.</p><p>The sworn statement was distributed by the Senate to the media afterwards.</p><p>Romualdez on Thursday said Guteza’s testimony was <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/25/romualdez-denies-receiving-suitcases-of-money-from-co-s-ex-security-consultant-1832">“an outright and complete fabrication</a>—nothing more than a desperate attempt to link me to supposed kickbacks where none exist.”</p><p>The lawmaker said it was impossible that he received money from Guteza in a residence that was under renovation since January 2024.</p><p>Co also previously denied accepting payoffs for flood control projects. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/24/-zaldy-co-s-son-urges-him-to-come-home-face-allegations-i-am-speaking-out-against-my-father-2319">Zaldy Co&#x27;s son urges him to come home, face allegations: &#x27;I am speaking out against my father&#x27;</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>CO</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, Lacson sees no issue for the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to have Co appear in its investigation into the corruption behind anomalous flood control projects.</p><p>Lacson said Co could choose to voluntarily appear, adding that inter-parliamentary courtesy is not accorded to individual members of the House but to the institution that those members represent.</p><p>&quot;(The inter-parliamentary courtesy) tradition is not accorded not to individual members of either house, it is accorded to the institution,&quot; he said.</p><p>When asked during Thursday&#x27;s hearing if they can invite Co when he gets back to the country, Lacson maintained that &quot;there is no issue there.&quot; </p><p>He added that Co-linked firm Sunwest and former Ilocos Sur governor Luis Singson would be invited to the next hearing. —With a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News</p><div><iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/axmpAlbMKc4" title="Bagong testigo, idiniin sina Zaldy Co, Martin Romualdez sa umano&#x27;y kickbacks sa DPWH | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1NsN4MN56R8" title="Guteza tumanggi sa alok na proteksyon ng Senado | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson on Friday said a full record check and background investigation (RCBI) was needed for "surprise witness" Orly Regala Guteza.</p>

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson on Friday said a full record check and background investigation (RCBI) was needed for "surprise witness" Orly Regala Guteza.

Lacson: Background check on 'totally surprise witness' Guteza needed

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Lacson: Background check on 'totally surprise witness' Guteza needed

ABS-CBN News

Published September 26, 2025 09:23 AM PHT

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Updated September 26, 2025 03:30 PM PHT

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