A lawyer denies notarizing an affidavit from a former aide accusing lawmakers of receiving cash, sparking a Senate probe.

A lawyer denies notarizing an affidavit by Orly Guteza, a former security aide who testified before a Senate committee on September 25, 2025, claiming he delivered cash-filled luggage to former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Ako Bicol Representative Elizaldy Co. Guteza, introduced by Senator Rodante Marcoleta, said he made multiple deliveries between December 2024 and August 2025, a claim Romualdez denied, stating his home was unoccupied. The affidavit’s notarial details were disputed by lawyer Petchie Rose Espera, who called the document fraudulent. Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson called for a full background check on Guteza, citing procedural lapses and the seriousness of the allegations. The committee plans to summon Co, Sunwest Construction, and former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis Singson as part of the probe into alleged anomalies in flood control projects.