Romualdez counters plunder raps anew, includes Guteza in defense

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Thursday filed his supplemental counter affidavit in the Office of the Ombudsman, including the recantation of a former bodyguard in his defense.

Romualdez’s lawyer Felix Villa, who filed the additional affidavit at the anti-graft body headquarters, said this document includes the statement of Orly Guteza, a former security personnel of ex-Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, 

on the delivery of suitcases of cash to Romualdez’s residence.

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The copy of the supplemental counter affidavit was not immediately available to the media, and Villa did not provide further details as he deferred to Romualdez’s spokesperson.

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In a press conference earlier, Romualdez spokesperson Ade Fajardo said they also included the statements of 25 other former drivers and security aides of Co.

“We remain confident that in a fair investigating body, we could prove that the accusations against Rep. Romualdez are baseless,” Fajardo said.

The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday downplayed Guteza’s recantation of his statements against Romualdez, saying the anti-graft body has 28 other witnesses to implicate him in the flood control kickback scheme.

READ: Ombudsman: 28 witnesses vs. Romualdez despite Guteza recantation

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“The Office of the Ombudsman is informing [the public] that it has 28 witnesses ready to provide direct and material knowledge regarding the transactions being investigated in the case involving former Speaker Martin Romualdez,” the anti-graft body said in a statement in Filipino.

Fajardo noted that the probe has been going on for several months. 

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But despite this, he said “it appears there is no forensic evidence or object or documentary evidence linking the former speaker … and only oral evidence or oral testimony that we know to be the most unreliable.”

Fajardo even said that “it’s a non-case” already.

“It should be dismissed because they have no evidence except stories,” he said.

Ombudsman investigators filed last July 20 a supplemental complaint-affidavit for plunder, direct bribery, graft and corruption, and money laundering against Romualdez, Co, and their co-accused.

READ: Probe of Romualdez, Co tags firms, ‘maleta’ use

Investigators accused Romualdez and Co of alleged “concerted and coordinated acts” in purportedly “unlawfully amassing, accumulating, and acquiring ill-gotten wealth” amounting to approximately P56 billion from 2022 to 2025.

Some of these amounts — according to Guteza and other witnesses including three of the “Maleta boys” who have since recanted as well — were delivered through suitcases.

READ: Ombudsman eyes plunder case vs. ‘recanting’ ex-bodyguards of Co

The recantation of three of the “Maleta boys” were already attached in Romualdez’s counter affidavit, according to Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano.

Clavano said investigators may also include the four former “Maleta boys” who recanted their statements in the plunder complaint against Romualdez.

In February, Levito Baligod, the counsel of the “Maleta boys,” submitted a single joint affidavit of the 18 personalities to the Office of the Ombudsman.

At that time, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said each of the 18 should submit their respective separate affidavits, saying that a joint narration of facts on such matters cast doubt on their credibility.

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Of the 18, the Ombudsman only obtained the separate affidavits from only eight of them. Three of the four personalities who recanted are part of those eight, since the other one did not submit a separate affidavit. /jpv