The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has invited former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez and 18 supposed former Philippine Marines to attend the resumption of the its inquiry on the flood control scandal on Thursday, June 4.
In a statement, Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairperson Sen. Pia Cayetano confirmed that formal invitations had been issued as part of the panel’s continuing inquiry into alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
“We look forward to the cooperation of all invited resource persons and agencies as the Committee carries out its mandate in aid of legislation and public accountability,” Cayetano said.
The committee said it expects the full cooperation of all invited individuals and government agencies during the proceedings.
Among the 34 personalities invited to the hearing, Romualdez is considered one of the key figures linked by accusers to the alleged flood control mess and supposed insertions in the national budget. The former House Speaker has repeatedly denied the allegations against him.
The 18 individuals identifying themselves as former Marines earlier claimed they served as alleged “bagmen” for former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and were involved in delivering kickbacks from flood control projects to government officials.
In a June 1 letter later posted on Facebook by their lawyer, Levito Baligod, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee invited the group to attend the resumed hearing as resource persons. However, the invitations were briefly withdrawn before later being restored.
Earlier on Tuesday, Baligod said his clients initially received notices to appear before the panel, but a subsequent email informed them that the invitations had been withdrawn.
Baligod posted a screenshot on Facebook on June 2 purportedly showing an email from the committee stating that “upon the directive of the Chairperson Senator Pia S. Cayetano, the said invitations are hereby withdrawn.”
Hours later, Baligod issued another statement saying the hearing would proceed as scheduled and that the invitations had been reinstated.
“Mga Kababayan, sa aking nakuhang impormasyon ay nag-aalala lamang pala ang ilang Senador sa maaari pang panggi-gipit na gagawin ng administrasyon sa mga kasapi ng majority bloc ng Senado. Sa ngayon, nalaman ko na matutuloy ang imbestigasyon ng Blue Ribbon Committee sa pinakamalaking nakawan sa kaban ng Bayan,” Baligod said.
The 18 former Marines alleged that they delivered approximately P805 billion in alleged flood control kickbacks reportedly concealed in suitcases, to Co, Romualdez, and several administration officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and members of his family.
Also invited to the hearing are representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and the Office of the Ombudsman.
Former DPWH assistant engineer Brice Hernandez of the Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office was likewise invited to attend the hearing after previously implicating several lawmakers in the alleged flood control irregularities.
