Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s surprise witness at the flood control probe, Orly Guteza, could not be found at his registered home address, Sen. Ping Lacson said Monday night.
Lacson explained that should he be reelected chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Guteza will be subpoenaed once the hearings resume.
The Manila Regional Trial Court may also be tapped to search for Guteza, who once worked as Rep. Elizaldy Co’s security aide.
Guteza was the one who claimed he had delivered cash-filled luggage to former House Speaker Martin Romualdez Co’s home.
Both will be invited to the hearings as well.
However, doubts remain to cloud Guteza’s testimony since the notary lawyer whose name appears on the affidavit said her signature was forged.
According to Lacson, the Manila RTC’s executive judge also found the lawyer’s signature on Guteza’s affidavit inconsistent with other documents she signed. A preliminary investigation for falsification may be underway soon.
However, Lacson said Guteza’s affidavit will still be considered despite the possible falsification and will attempt to verify his claims.
‘Ngayon, ‘pag ‘di siya makita, ia-appreciate na lang namin ‘yung kanyang sinumpaang salaysay on its face value,’ Lacson said in an interview on One News Storycon.
(For now, if we still can’t find him, we will appreciate his sworn statement at face value.)
Since Marcoleta, who had a short stint as the committee chair, was the one who introduced the resource person, Lacson said the panel will seek his help in locating Guteza. The Senate may also approach the Marines, given Guteza’s background.
‘We will send Guteza a subpoena through the office of Sen. Marcoleta and/or the residence or office of Defensor. They had a hand in presenting Marcoleta, so we hope they know how to contact Guteza,’ Lacson said.
The Senate pro tempore also revealed that Senate CCTV footage showed Guteza lounging at Marcoleta’s office for 30 minutes in the morning of September 25 before heading to the session hall for the committee hearing.
Lacson targets to resume hearings by November 14 should he be reelected as chair.