Sen. Erwin Tulfo invited the 18 alleged former Marines to the rescheduled Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the flood-control controversy after they appeared in a separate proceeding connected to the bloc of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.
The invitation came amid a Senate leadership dispute over control of the Blue Ribbon probe. Tulfo was named the committee’s new chairperson following a Senate reorganization, while the Cayetano bloc continued to question the validity of the shake-up.
On Thursday, June 4, the alleged former Marines appeared in a hearing ordered by Sen. Pia Cayetano and presided over by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta. They repeated claims that they served as bagmen in alleged cash deliveries tied to former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
They also named several public officials whom they accused of receiving money connected to the alleged flood-control kickback scheme, including Tulfo and Sen. Vicente Tito Sotto. Both senators have denied the accusations.
Tulfo’s move brings the witnesses before the Blue Ribbon Committee under his chairmanship. They were also asked to submit notarized affidavits detailing their alleged roles and duties as supposed bagmen.
Tulfo said the hearing was moved to Monday, June 8, to give members time to prepare following changes in the committee. He also questioned the earlier list of invited resource persons, saying Blue Ribbon members should have been consulted before the invitations were released.
The development raises the stakes in the flood-control probe as the witnesses’ claims add pressure to the controversy surrounding Romualdez, who remains under scrutiny over alleged flood-control corruption and budget insertions. The allegations remain unproven and are expected to be tested further in the next hearing.
