MANILA — The Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 18 has ruled 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 found that the signature of lawyer Petty Rose Espera appearing on Guteza’s sworn statement was fake.

The court gave due course to the incident report filed by Espera, whose signature and notarial details were falsified in the document, and cleared her of any administrative, civil, or criminal liability.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) was ordered to file falsification charges against Guteza and others involved in using or presenting the falsified affidavit.

A copy of the order was also 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 on Sept. 25 as a “surprise witness.”

In his affidavit, Guteza alleged that he delivered suitcases of money to the residences of former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co and Leyte 1st District Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

Romualdez denied the allegations and said he would fully cooperate with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure in its investigation into alleged irregularities in flood control projects. (PNA)