Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Thursday said the recantation of former Marine Orly Guteza over his statements on alleged cash deliveries to former Speaker Martin Romualdez was not surprising, citing what he described as evidence that Guteza had been “coached” during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing last year.
Lacson said Guteza’s reversal was foreseeable after Sen. Rodante Marcoleta allegedly prompted him during the Sept. 23 hearing and following similar recantations by some of the so-called “Maleta Boys”.
“Since on record naman sa hearing ng Blue Ribbon Committee na coached witness ni Sen. Marcoleta si Guteza at naka-live pa nga, hindi na surprising na babaliktad siya balang araw,” Lacson said.
“Naging ‘one dime a dozen’ na ang baliktaran ng testimonya ng mga ‘maleta boys’ kaya hindi na rin surprising na ang original ‘Maleta Boy’ a.k.a. Basura na si Orly Guteza ay bumaliktad na rin,” he added.
Lacson also noted that the developments involving Guteza and the other “Maleta Boys” appeared to point to attempts to personally profit from their alleged involvement in the flood control controversy.
“Sa lengguwahe ng mga mandurugas, ‘lagareng hapon’ yata ang tawag nila diyan – doble-kita, or 40-40 vision,” he said.
Lacson previously observed that during the Blue Ribbon hearing he chaired, Marcoleta was seen prompting Guteza on what to say regarding his affidavit. He also cited Senate CCTV records showing that Guteza went to Marcoleta’s office and stayed there for about half an hour before appearing at the committee hearing.
In an affidavit of recantation, Guteza resurfaced `and retracted his earlier claims, alleging that Marcoleta and former Rep.Michael Defensor pressured him to testify against Romualdez in exchange for money and educational scholarships for his children.