Lacson: ‘Coached Witness’ Guteza’s Recantation Not Surprising

The recantation by ex-Marine Orly Guteza of his statements about cash deliveries to former Speaker Martin Romualdez is not surprising, considering that he was identified as a “coached” witness during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing last year, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Thursday.

Lacson said Guteza’s backtracking was foreseeable after he was “coached” by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta during the hearing last Sept. 23 – and after some of the “Maleta boys” did the same earlier.

“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 (Since it is on record that Marcoleta coached Guteza, it is not surprising that Guteza would backtrack on his claims someday),” he 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 (The backtracking of the ‘maleta boys’ has become a dime a dozen so it’s not surprising that Guteza, the original ‘Maleta Boy’ a.k.a. Basura, followed suit),” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Pagbawi ni ‘Coached Witness’ Guteza, Hindi Nakapagtataka

Lacson said the case of Guteza and the other “Maleta boys” smacks of attempts to personally gain from their alleged involvement in the flood control mess.

“Sa lingguahe ng mga mandurugas, ‘lagareng hapon’ yata ang tawag nila diyan – doble-kita, or 40-40 vision (In the words of swindlers, it’s ‘lagareng hapon’ or ‘doble kita,’ or 40-40 vision),” he said.

Earlier, Lacson had noted that during the Blue Ribbon hearing which he chaired, Marcoleta was observed to be coaching Guteza by prompting him on what to say in Guteza’s affidavit.

Also, Lacson cited Senate CCTV records showing Guteza went to Marcoleta’s office, spending half an hour there, before appearing at the Blue Ribbon hearing.

Guteza, after a long absence, resurfaced and recanted his statements, adding Marcoleta and ex-Rep. Michael Defensor had him “testify” in exchange for money and scholarships for his children.

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Lacson: Pagbawi ni ‘Coached Witness’ Guteza, Hindi Nakapagtataka

Hindi nakapagtataka ang pagbawi ni ex-Marine Orly Guteza sa kanyang mga pahayag tungkol sa paghahatid ng pera kay dating Speaker Martin Romualdez, dahil na-identify na siya bilang isang “coached” witness sa isang pagdinig ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee noong nakaraang taon, ayon kay Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Huwebes.

Ayon kay Lacson, inaasahan na ang pagbawi ni Guteza sa kanyang mga pahayag matapos siyang i-“coach” ni Sen. Rodante Marcoleta sa pagdinig noong Setyembre 23—at matapos ding bumaliktad ang ilan sa mga “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,” aniya.

“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,” dagdag niya.

Ani Lacson, ang kaso ni Guteza at ng iba pang “Maleta boys” ay tila nagpapakita ng pagtatangkang kumita nang personal mula sa kanilang diumano’y pagkakasangkot sa flood control scandal.

“Sa lingguahe ng mga mandurugas, ‘lagareng hapon’ yata ang tawag nila diyan – doble-kita, or 40-40 vision,” aniya.

Nauna nang sinabi ni Lacson na sa pagdinig ng Blue Ribbon Committee na kanyang pinamunuan, napansin na kino-coach ni Marcoleta si Guteza sa pamamagitan ng pag-uudyok dito kung ano ang dapat sabihin sa kanyang affidavit.

Binanggit din ni Lacson ang Senate CCTV records na nagpapakitang nagtungo si Guteza sa tanggapan ni Marcoleta at nanatili roon nang kalahating oras bago humarap sa pagdinig ng Blue Ribbon Committee.

Matapos ang matagal na pagkawala sa publiko, muling lumitaw si Guteza at binawi ang kanyang mga pahayag, at sinabing sina Marcoleta at dating Rep. Michael Defensor ang nagpasaksi sa kanya kapalit ng pera at scholarship para sa kanyang mga anak.

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