Manila: The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 18 has affirmed that the affidavit executed by Orly Regala Guteza and presented before the Senate Blue Ribbon committee was falsified. In an 11-page decision dated Oct. 24, Executive Judge Carolina Icasiano-Sison ruled that the signature of lawyer Petty Rose Espera affixed to Guteza’s sworn statement was fake.

According to Philippines News Agency, the judge gave due course to the incident report filed by Espera, whose signature and notarial details were falsified in the affidavit, and cleared her from any administrative, civil, or criminal liability. The court also ordered the Department of Justice to file falsification charges against Guteza and all those who used or presented the document for falsifying Espera’s signature and other notarial details.

A copy of the order was furnished to the Office of the Court Administrator for proper monitoring and administrative record. The case stemmed from Guteza’s appearance before the Senate Blue Ribbon committee as a ‘surprise witness’ on Sept. 25. In his sworn affidavit, he claimed to have delivered suitcases of money to the residences of former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

Romualdez vehemently denied the allegations and vowed to fully cooperate with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure in its ongoing investigation on anomalous flood control projects.