The Weight of Lies: How a Bogus Testimony of Orly Guteza Turned Into a Political Weapon

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

In the circus of Philippine politics, even the weight of a suitcase can decide the fate of powerful men.

During a Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, witness Orly Guteza painted a picture so sensational it should have collapsed under the weight of its own absurdity. “Ang bigat ng maleta,” he declared. Heavy, indeed—but not heavy enough to hold up against basic math.

When fellow participant Discaya quipped that a million pesos weighs roughly one kilogram, the illusion shattered. Guteza’s claim of lugging around 48 kilograms of cash on his own was laughable. From the looks of him, he couldn’t have hauled that kind of load without collapsing under the strain.

Then came the computation that turned the story into a parody of itself. To move around 46 suitcases stuffed with cash—over ₱2 billion in total—you’d need more than just bravado. The load would weigh a staggering 2.4 tons, with each suitcase tipping the scales at 53 kilograms. That’s heavier than an SUV. Imagine it: three large vans just to carry the money, and at least two dozen men to haul, lift, and guard it.

Yet Guteza’s affidavit, the very foundation of his testimony, mentioned none of these logistical impossibilities. Worse, the affidavit itself was later disowned by Atty. Petchie Rose Espera, whose signature and notarial stamp appear on the document.

By any measure of truth, Guteza’s testimony should have collapsed in on itself. But in Philippine politics, truth is often irrelevant.

Because the point wasn’t to prove facts. The point was to tell a story.

Congressman Rodante Marcoleta, who paraded Guteza as his star witness, got exactly what he wanted. Whether or not the details held up, Guteza’s tale was enough to air the spectacle, enough for the Duterte Diehard Supporters (DDS) to grab onto and weaponize.

In their universe, narrative is king, facts are optional, and reality is always bent and twisted.

Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, already burdened by accusations of overseeing what many describe as the most corrupt national budget in history, has now been painted as the villain in yet another morality play staged by his rivals. The DDS want him jailed, disgraced, and punished—not necessarily for what he has done, but for daring to preside over the impeachment complaint against Sara Duterte.

And so, despite the glaring holes in Guteza’s story—the impossible weights, the disowned affidavit, the unanswered question from his own coach: “Bakit putol-putol yung affidavit na binabasa mo?”—the narrative lives on.

Because in the DDS world, a bogus testimony isn’t a collapse of credibility. It’s fuel for fire.

A story, no matter how twisted, can burn brighter than the truth.

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