The Office of the Ombudsman downplayed the recantation of Orly Guteza about his alleged kickback deliveries to Leyte Rep. and former Speaker Martin Romualdez, calling it a “classic pressure tactic” and saying it has 28 more witnesses for its case.
Guteza’s affidavit was among those it cited in the complaint for plunder, bribery, graft, and money laundering against Romualdez and former lawmaker Elizaldy Co in connection with the flood control controversy, which is now undergoing preliminary investigation.
But Guteza, Co’s former security aide, issued a new affidavit saying he was only tapped to make the allegations against Co and Romualdez by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and former lawmaker Mike Defensor.
In a statement, the Office of the Ombudsman said recantations in high-profile cases are nothing new.
It also said its case against Romualdez does not depend on Guteza alone. It has 28 witnesses in the case.
“Sa kabila nito, ipinapaalam ng Office of the Ombudsman na mayroon itong DALAWAMPU’T-WALONG (28) testigo na nakahandang magbigay ng direkta at materyal na kaalaman sa mga transaksyong sinisiyasat sa kaso ni dating Speaker Martin Romualdez. Nasa ilalim na sila ng legal process sa ngayon,” it said.
These witnesses are uniformed personnel who are still in active service, it said.
It also warned against obstructing its investigation, saying those who do this would face legal consequences.
It said cooperation in the probe is not optional, but an obligation under the law.
“Sinuman ang mangahas humadlang, mangbara o manggulo sa proceedings ng Ombudsman ay haharap sa buong bigat ng batas. Hindi hihinto ang paghahanap ng katotohanan kahit ayaw pang magsalita ninuman,” it said.
The Office of the Ombudsman is conducting a preliminary investigation into the complaint against Co and Romualdez, who are alleged to be the masterminds of a scheme to collect kickbacks from flood control projects.