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MANILA, Philippines — The Senate Blue Ribbon committee will proceed with its June 4 hearing on the multibillion-peso flood control scandal after restoring invitations to the 18 former military personnel who claimed to have delivered billions of pesos in alleged kickbacks to administration officials.
In a June 1 letter posted by their lawyer Levito Baligod on Facebook, the Blue Ribbon committee invited the 18 former enlisted personnel to attend the resumption of the probe.
The group is comprised of Belnard Tube, Rosebert Waupan, Benny Bulontate, Johnny Buduan, Rodante Orbillo, Reyneboy Julian, Christopher Esquivel, George Villalon Jr., Romeo Rommel Bobares, Gil Navidad Jr., Anselmo Taberdo, Joely Cadiao, Rommel Galapon, Cecilio Larroder Jr., Bernard Gumban, Crisanie Dado, Fidel Corpuz and Walter Manalansan.
However, the committee briefly withdrew the invitations before later restoring them.
Baligod posted on Facebook on June 2 a screenshot of an email purportedly from the committee stating that “the invitations are hereby withdrawn… upon the directive of the (Blue Ribbon committee) chairperson Sen. Pia Cayetano.”
Along with the screenshot, Baligod wrote that “the Senate is undergoing immolation, courtesy of the minority bloc which is enabled by the executive and the HOR (House of Representatives).”
Three hours later, he issued another post saying the hearing would push through as scheduled.
He said he had learned that some senators were concerned about possible attempts by the administration to pressure members of the Senate majority bloc.
“Based on information I received, some senators were merely worried about possible harassment that the administration might still inflict on members of the Senate majority bloc. For now, I have learned that the Blue Ribbon committee’s investigation into the biggest plunder of public funds will proceed,” Baligod said in Filipino.
The Blue Ribbon committee later confirmed that the hearing would continue as scheduled on Thursday.
The 18 ex-Marines have alleged that they delivered, by land, sea and air, some P805 billion in flood control kickbacks, allegedly concealed in suitcases, to fugitive former Ako Bicol representative Zaldy Co, former speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and several administration officials, including President Marcos and members of his family.
Former Marine Orly Guteza first raised the allegations during last year’s Blue Ribbon hearings led by Sen. Panfilo Lacson.
Lacson, however, cast doubt on the claims, citing the logistical difficulty of transporting P805 billion in cash, which he estimated would require 13,416 large suitcases.
The 18 former military personnel were reportedly hired as bagmen for Co and allegedly delivered cash-filled suitcases and packages to various individuals, including current and former government officials, while they were meeting with investigators from the International Criminal Court.
Baligod and the 18 ex-Marines are currently facing charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ), including perjury, cyber libel, unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances.
Sen. Rodante Marcoleta is expected to head the inquiry as chairman of a Blue Ribbon subcommittee.
Speaking to dzBB, Marcoleta said it would be up to Cayetano, as committee chairmaon, whether to delegate the investigation to him in his capacity as vice chair.
