National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Atty. Melvin Matibag said on Monday that the senators and resource persons who attended the “illegitimate” flood control inquiry may face charges for usurpation of authority.

“The possibility is, they are not recognized as the legal Blue Ribbon Committee, of course, there’s usurpation of power,” Matibag said during a press conference.

The bureau director explained that the senators and 18 former, self-confessed bagmen can face perjury or libel cases without the protection of parliamentary immunity.

“Kung hindi legitimate na Blue Ribbon Committee ‘yun, they are not covered with parliamentary immunity. So ang puwedeng i-kaso sa kanila, maikakaso sa kanila: puwede silang kasuhan ng perjury, puwedeng kasuhan ng libel o oral defamation. Because during the committee hearing, ang statement ng mga senators, they are protected by the privilege ng parliamentary immunity,” he told the press.

On June 4, the bloc backing Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s claim to leadership proceeded with the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on flood control anomalies despite Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian declaring that there had been no official business in the Senate on that day.

During the said hearing, the 18 men linked to former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co testified, accusing numerous former and incumbent government officials who supposedly accepted kickbacks from the flood control scheme.