Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson’s Opening Statement at the Hearing:
Before we proceed to the substantive discussions, the Committee will deal first with some administrative matters for the record:
All members of the House of Representatives implicated by the Discaya spouses, as well as Cong. Martin Romualdez and Cong. Eric Yap cited by Mr. Orly Guteza, were invited to attend this hearing. Incumbent Congressmen were invited through a letter dated 12 November 2025 to Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy of the House of Representatives.
According to Speaker Dy, the members will not be appearing before the Committee today in order to avoid any possible prejudice to the ongoing investigation and eventual findings of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), given that the invited members have already submitted themselves to its jurisdiction and proceedings.
Mr. Zaldy Co was similarly invited to appear before this Committee—however, his lawyer, Atty. Ruy Alberto Rondain, replied that Mr. Co is unable to attend, citing that he is still overseas due to medical reasons.
Let me state clearly that this Committee takes strong exception to the statement made by Atty. Rondain, specifically his apprehension, and I quote, “I am apprehensive that any statement he (Mr. Zaldy Co) may give before the Committee will, at best, pre-empt any defense he may set up.” Our invitation was directed to Mr. Co himself, not to his lawyer.
Suffice it to say that Article I (Jurisdiction), Section 2 of the Rules of the Blue Ribbon, clearly states,
“The filing or pendency of any prosecution or criminal action shall not stop or abate any inquiry to carry out a legislative purpose.”
Several of the invitees also sent their excuse letters:
Jonathan Quirante of Quirante Construction
Excuse: Needs to attend to personnel operations and project sites affected by Typhoon Tino and needs more time to organize documents.
Eumir Villanueva of Topnotch Catalyst Builders
Excuse: Prior engagement
Engr. Arjay Domasig
Excuse: Scheduled appearance at the DOJ at 1:00 pm today.
The following also sent excuse letters based on alleged medical reasons:
Engr. Gerard Opulencia, Regional Director, DPWH – NCR
DE Manny Bulusan, District Engineer, South Manila District Engineering Office
Commissioner Mario Lipana
The Committee also sought the assistance of the Bureau of Immigration to obtain available information on the following individuals: Mark Baquiran Bunagan, Allan Colesio, John Paul Estrada, Orly Regala Guteza, and Mark Tecsay.
In their response letter dated 13 November 2025, the Bureau informed the Committee that there is no record of departure for Mr. Bunagan, Mr. Guteza, and Mr. Tecsay. Meanwhile, Mr. Colesio is confirmed to be in the country, having returned from a brief trip abroad from October 18 to October 24, 2025.
In the case of Mr. John Paul Estrada, the reported aide of Mr. Zaldy Co, the BI reported that he left the country on September 2, 2025, bound for Hong Kong, and has not returned to the Philippines to date.
Lastly, this representation received a copy of an Order dated 24 October 2025, penned by Judge Carolina C. Icasiano-Sison, Executive Judge of the Manila Regional Trial Court. In relation to the investigation conducted by her office on the authenticity of the notarization of the Sinumpaang Salaysay executed by Mr. Orly Guteza, allegedly notarized by Atty. Petchie Rose G. Espera.
For the record, the Committee notes that the Notarial Monthly Report submitted by Atty. Espera covers notarized documents recorded under Notarial Book No. III, specifically:
Book No.: III
Doc. No.: 41 – 173
Pages: 10 – 36
Period September 11 – 30, 2025
It is further noted that these details differ from those appearing in the Sinumpaang Salaysay of Mr. Guteza, which, on the other hand, indicates the following particulars:
Doc No. 255
Page No. 51
Book No. VIII
Series of 2025
Furthermore, the Order issued by Executive Judge Icasiano-Sison took into consideration the report prepared by Mr. Antonio R. Magbojos, Executive Officer of the Forensic and Scientific Service, Questioned Documents Division of the NBI. After conducting a comparative examination of the specimen signatures, the NBI concluded that the questioned signature and the standard specimen signatures of Atty. Espera were not written by one and the same person.
Since it was found that Atty. Espera has not notarized the Sinumpaang Salaysay, her notarial details including her signature contained in the said document, is falsified.
As such, the Order declared that there was no sufficient basis to hold Atty. Espera administratively liable in connection with the notarization of the Sinumpaang Salaysay.
With that said, let us start.
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Former DPWH Usec Roberto Bernardo’s Statement Linking Personalities to the Flood Control Projects Mess:
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Sen. Lacson details ghost projects of Discaya firms:
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