By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday called for criminal charges against those who may have orchestrated fabricated testimonies in the government’s investigation into alleged anomalies in flood control projects, warning that manufactured witnesses and planted evidence could damage both the justice system and public confidence.
Palace press officer Claire Castro said law enforcement agencies should pursue whoever was responsible for allegedly creating false narratives and using witnesses to support them.
“Those who should be charged should be charged. Whoever masterminded the creation of these kinds of scenarios should be charged,” Castro said during a briefing.
Her statement followed the recantation of Orly Guteza, a retired Marine and former security aide of former lawmaker Zaldy Co, who withdrew his earlier sworn testimony alleging that he delivered suitcases—or “maleta”—containing millions of pesos to the residences of Co and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Guteza has since claimed that he had no personal knowledge of the alleged cash deliveries.
He further alleged that Senator Rodante Marcoleta and former lawmaker Mike Defensor conspired to fabricate the accusations against Romualdez, supposedly in exchange for P150 million and scholarships for his children.
Four of Co’s 18 former bodyguards have likewise withdrawn sworn statements claiming they delivered suitcases of cash to Co, Romualdez and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Castro said the conflicting accounts must now undergo close scrutiny, stressing that Guteza’s recantation does not automatically establish the truth of his latest claims.
“If it is proven that he simply made up stories, that would not help in pursuing the people who should be held accountable,” she said.
She said the Office of the Ombudsman, the Department of Justice and other investigating agencies must determine which version of the testimony is truthful and whether anyone manipulated witnesses or fabricated evidence.
“What the President wants is for the story to be true. So what Mr. Guteza said must also be investigated. His claims after his recantation must be verified to determine whether they are truthful. Everything must be thoroughly checked and properly weighed,” Castro said.
Malacañang also raised the possibility that the alleged fabrication of testimonies could form part of an attempt to destabilize the Marcos administration.
“This is concerning because it could undermine our justice system. It could also undermine the public’s trust because more false information, fake news and misinformation could be spread and affect the truth,” Castro said.
She warned that the use of alleged false witnesses and planted evidence could derail efforts to identify and prosecute those actually responsible for irregularities in government flood control projects.
Despite the witness recantations, Castro said the Ombudsman and DOJ investigations into alleged ghost and substandard flood control projects remain ongoing.
The Senate has also transmitted documents and evidence it gathered to the Ombudsman as part of the broader investigation.
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways is expected to report any additional findings involving alleged ghost projects or substandard flood control structures that failed to serve their intended purpose.
For Malacañang, the latest witness reversals have added another layer to an already explosive investigation—one that now requires authorities to establish not only whether flood control funds were misused, but also whether false testimony was deliberately manufactured to manipulate the search for accountability.
ia/xf
