Senator Rodante Marcoleta on Monday said he wants the Senate to invite all 17 current and former lawmakers allegedly linked to infrastructure project kickbacks, following claims made by government contractor Sarah and Curlee Discaya in a previous hearing.

"Diba ganun naman dapat, unang-una ‘yung kauna-unahang witness na sumigaw sa mga pangalan ng sangkot ay yung Discaya. Kauna-unahan ‘yun eh. 17 miyembro ng Kongreso ang kanyang sinigaw," Marcoleta said in an interview on DZRH Dos Por Dos.

"Wala pinagtakpan lang, hindi man lang sila inanyayahan. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ganun," he added.

Marcoleta accused some senators of shielding and protecting members of the House of Representatives.

"Nahahalata niyo na nagtatakip na talaga eh. Pagka-congressmen takot na takot sila," he said.

Amid the controversy, Marcoleta stressed that lawmakers tagged in the alleged kickback scheme have a responsibility to face the Senate and clear their names, emphasizing their accountability to the people who elected them.

"Sa akin naman, kung walang dapat na itago. Iyon naman ay sang-ayon sa kanilang sinumpaang obligasyon sa mamamayan. Sapagkat mga public figures na po tayo, inihalal po tayo ng ating mga kababayan, pinagkatiwalaan po tayo ng kanilang boto...Nasa sa inyo po ang obligasyon para linisin 'yan, alang-al sa kanila," he said.

Discaya earlier testified that 17 lawmakers had benefited from alleged kickbacks tied to infrastructure projects.

The senator also challenged the use of inter-parliamentary courtesy to shield Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, stressing that the tradition—meant to maintain respect between chambers—should not be treated as an excuse to evade accountability.

He cited the case of former Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, who appeared twice before the Senate when invited.

"Nasa choice ng inimbita mo kahit miyembro siya ng Kongreso, kung gusto niya. Kaya nga hindi namin ginagamit ‘yung subpoena. 'Yung subpoena kasi mayroong pwersa ‘yun sa pamimilit. Peto yung inimbita lang tulad ng ginawa ko kay Rep. Toby Tiangco, malaya at boluntaryo siyang pumunta roon, dalawang beses pa nga pumunta doon. Pagkatapos sasabihin nila inter parliamentary courtesy hindi po dapat gamitin iyon," Marcoleta stressed.

According to him, the Senate has not resorted to subpoenas precisely to avoid coercion.

"Hindi kami nagsisimula sa subpoena, dahil nga iyon ay may pagkasapilitan. May konti ng courtesy iyon. Nasa sa kanya na iyon kung pauunalakan ka o hindi. Dapat naman siguro magpa-unlak sapagkat nakasalang ang pangalanan mo, ayaw mo bang linisin ang pangalan mo" he added.