When retired Marine officer Orly Regala Guteza chose to appear before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and “tell all” about the flood control scandal, he stepped into one of the most dangerous positions a whistleblower can take: speaking without the safety net of the Witness Protection Program. This choice alone sets him apart not only for what he revealed, but also for the risks he willingly embraced. 

The good side of this act is clear. Guteza’s decision ignited a broader public discussion about accountability. In a time when silence is often rewarded and truth-telling punished, his example is a reminder that courage still has a place in public life. By narrating how money allegedly changed hands, Guteza gave the public a window into the mechanics of corruption. Whether all his statements withstand scrutiny or not, his willingness to break the wall of silence has encouraged ordinary citizens and fellow soldiers to demand more from those in power. 

But courage has consequences. Without protection, Guteza exposes himself to retaliation, both physical and legal. His rejection of the Witness Protection Program can be seen as a means to his conviction, but it also raises the stakes. A witness without protection can easily be intimidated, discredited, or worse—silenced. For institutions trying to build credible cases, the fragility of his position poses a risk to the integrity of investigations. 

Beyond Guteza, his testimony has fueled public clamor for others—particularly his colleagues who handled similar “deliveries”—to muster the same bravery. These individuals carry first-hand knowledge of where the money went and who received it. The expectation now is that they too will step forward in their individual capacities. If they do, the collective weight of their testimonies could not only confirm or correct Guteza’s claims but also build a case that is difficult to dismiss. If they remain silent, however, the burden rests unfairly on one man’s shoulders, leaving room for skeptics to dismiss the controversy as the story of a lone Marine. 

The test of courage, therefore, is no longer Guteza’s alone. It belongs to his peers, to our institutions, and to a public eager to see truth brought into the light. Courage, after all, is contagious—but only if others are willing to carry it forward.