Senator Panfilo Lacson clarified on Monday, 4 November 2025, that his request for a copy of the September 25 CCTV footage was not intended to monitor or “spy on” Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta, but to locate a key figure in the ongoing investigation into alleged flood control project anomalies.
In a press briefing following the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) flood control projects, Lacson said he wanted to determine the whereabouts of a certain Guteza, whom he described as “a person of interest” in the probe.
“There is no news on Guteza—that’s the reason why I thought of reviewing the CCTV footage of 25 September. It was not my intention to spy on Senator Marcoleta,” Lacson said.
He added that the real purpose of reviewing the footage was to identify who Guteza might have been with at the time, which could lead investigators to someone who could help locate him.
“The real reason why we wanted to find that footage is to give us a clue as to who could be with him, someone we can reach out to and send the invitation through, because he’s missing,” Lacson explained.
The senator stressed that Guteza needs to appear to clarify his previous testimonies and provide additional documents or evidence to support his sworn statement. The committee is also seeking individuals who can corroborate Guteza’s claims.
Lacson noted that Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa reportedly presented someone who could back up parts of Guteza’s account, with speculation that this person could be identified as “Paul” or “Mark” in the testimony.
When the panel invited these potential witnesses for the Friday hearing, they were informed that one of them might have traveled to Europe and possibly joined the delegation of Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, though this has yet to be confirmed.
“Mark and Paul are important figures in this case because they are allegedly the ones that delivered. That’s what we need from Guteza—someone to corroborate his statement, whether through another witness or documentary evidence,” Lacson said.
He emphasized that Guteza’s claims cannot stand alone without proper corroboration. “Mere allegation by one person, even at the court or prosecution level, won’t hold water,” he added.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee continues to investigate alleged overpricing and irregularities in DPWH-funded flood control projects across several regions, with Guteza identified as one of the individuals linked to the questioned transactions.