Manila, Sept. 1 -- The recantations of Orly Guteza and several members of the so-called Maleta Boys cannot be treated as additional evidence that strengthens the complaints against former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, his lawyer and spokesperson Ade Fajardo said Tuesday.

In a statement sent to reporters, Fajardo said calling the recantations does not, by itself, make the evidence against the former Speaker stronger.

"Well, we respectfully disagree," Fajardo said in a statement Tuesday, rejecting Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano's position that the original statements and the recantations should both be treated as evidence in the preliminary investigation into Romualdez's alleged involvement in anomalous flood-control projects.

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