Senate President Pro Tempore and Acting Senate President Win Gatchalian on Monday expressed disappointment after 18 alleged “bagmen,” their legal counsel Atty. Levi Baligod, and former Rep. Mike Defensor failed to appear at a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on flood control scandal.

During the panel's hearing, Gatchalian said the non-attendance of the 18 former Marines, along with their lawyer Atty. Baligod and Defensor, was regrettable given that they were formally invited to the hearing held on June 8, 2026.

“Nakakadismaya na hindi po umattend ‘yung 18 bodyguards, ‘yung kanilang abogado na si Atty. Baligod, at si Ginoong Mike Defensor dito sa ating patawag. Ito po ay opisyal na patawag,” Gatchalian said during the hearing.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee secretariat confirmed that none of the invited individuals responded to the official invitations extended for the consultative meeting.

Gatchalian stressed that the hearing conducted by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee was official and properly announced, noting that the invitations were publicly posted and the proceedings were streamed online.

“Nakakadismaya po dahil kung alam ng mga invited guest particularly yung 18 bodyguards nasa loob ng kanilang puso ay alam nila ang katotohanan ay dapat pumunta po sila dito patra ipamahagi at i-share sa ating lahat ang katotohanan,” he added.

He also emphasized that witnesses should not selectively participate in proceedings depending on convenience or preference.

“Hindi pwedeng pumili kung saan sila pupunta at magsalita, hindi ho pwedeng pumili kung sino ang kakausapin nila, kung kakampi man o hindi. Dahil kung alam mo nasa puso mo ang katotohanan. Kahit saan ka pumunta, katotohanan ang dapat mong sabihin,” Gatchalian said.

The senator added that he had prepared a series of questions for the former Marines based on their affidavits, which he said contained several “inconsistencies“ and “gaps.“

“Nagprepera tayo para makausap sila at para maging patas ang pagdinig ngayong umaga, pero sa ganitong sitwasyon, ako personal na nadidismaya dahil hindi nagkaroon ngayon ng pagkakataon para matanong sila at lalong klaruhin ang kanilang sinasab,” he said.

He noted that the individuals had previously appeared in other venues to make public statements, but stressed that the Senate hearing was the most appropriate forum to address the allegations.

Meanwhile, Gatchalian reiterated that Senator Erwin Tulfo is the legitimate chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee and has the authority to convene consultative meetings, following the declaration on June 3, 2026 that all committee seats were vacant and subsequently reorganized.