Questions were raised over the omission of Sen. Loren Legarda and the Villar siblings from an affidavit submitted by 18 former Marines, as Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said Thursday he had not yet reviewed the document.
The affidavit, which has drawn scrutiny in a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee inquiry, reportedly cited only Senators Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Erwin Tulfo, despite earlier claims that other lawmakers, including Legarda and Senators Mark and Camille Villar, were also involved in the allegations.
Cayetano said he had only just seen the affidavit and had not read it when it was presented in hearings led by his bloc.
“Ngayon ko lang nakita yung affidavit,” Cayetano said.
He was responding to questions on why the document named only two senators while omitting others who were previously mentioned in related claims.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing conducted by Cayetano’s bloc and chaired by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta did not mention Legarda and the Villar siblings, even though their names appeared in the affidavit.
According to the document, witnesses alleged that individuals delivered two medium-sized suitcases to Legarda in 2024 at a residence in North Forbes Park, Makati City.
It also claimed that individuals, along with former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, delivered seven medium-sized suitcases to Villar in 2022 at a residence in Las Piñas City.
The allegations were contained in the affidavit but were not discussed during the committee proceedings.
Cayetano also said witnesses should be made to face future hearings to test the credibility of their claims, reacting to calls from Sen. Erwin Tulfo.
“But that’s the problem with the Tulfos, sasabihin nila humarap ka, etc. Edi sana humarap siya kanina. Yung 18 [na ex-Marines], harapin niya sa susunod na hearing,” Cayetano said. “Mas maganda nga ‘yon pagka ganon kasi mate-test yung credibility.”
The Senate inquiry is part of an ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in flood control projects, with the former Marines appearing as resource persons.
