The Senate’s investigation into alleged anomalies in multibillion-peso flood control projects has become entangled in a leadership dispute that led to separate proceedings by rival factions of the Blue Ribbon Committee over the past week.
The conflict emerged following the Senate reorganization that installed Senator Erwin Tulfo as chairperson of the Blue Ribbon Committee. Senators aligned with Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano have questioned the validity of the reorganization, maintaining that the previous committee leadership remains in place.
Cayetano Bloc Hears Testimony From Alleged Bagmen
On June 4, senators aligned with the Cayetano bloc proceeded with a hearing at the Senate despite objections from senators supporting the committee's new leadership.
The hearing was initially presided over by Senator Pia Cayetano before Senator Rodante Marcoleta took over as presiding officer. Also present were Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Robinhood Padilla, Imee Marcos, and Loren Legarda.
During the proceedings, 18 individuals who identified themselves as former Marines and former aides of former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co testified that they allegedly delivered cash-filled luggage and bags to politicians and other public figures on behalf of Co. They also claimed that cash deliveries were made to former House Speaker Martin Romualdez beginning in 2022. One witness, Belnard Tube, testified that he accompanied Co during a trip to Paoay, Ilocos Norte, where he saw President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Romualdez.
Represented by lawyer Levito Baligod, the witnesses also named several incumbent and former lawmakers and other personalities, including Reps. Leila de Lima, Sandro Marcos, Terry Ridon, Gerville Luistro, Benny Abante, Zia Adiong, Jose Alvarez, Joel Chua, and Janette Garin; former lawmakers France Castro, Arlene Brosas, Ace Barbers, Dan Fernandez, Raoul Manuel, and Stella Quimbo; Fr. Flavie Villanueva; Senator Erwin Tulfo; and former Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
Those named have denied or disputed the allegations. No documentary evidence was presented during the hearing to independently corroborate the claims.
Gatchalian-Tulfo Bloc Convenes Consultative Meeting
On June 8, the Blue Ribbon Committee under Tulfo's leadership held a consultative meeting on the flood control controversy.
The 18 alleged former Marines arrived at the Senate with Baligod but did not participate in the proceedings. Baligod argued that the invitation issued to the witnesses was defective and maintained that Tulfo should inhibit himself from the inquiry because he was among those named during the June 4 hearing.
Senate Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian, meanwhile, expressed disappointment over the witnesses' decision not to attend the meeting, saying they should present their allegations before the committee if they wished to help establish the facts surrounding the case.
Baligod also announced that an additional 14 former Marines and former Co employees may be presented in future proceedings.
Leadership Dispute Overshadows Probe
The June 8 consultative meeting was later suspended following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao, with senators citing respect for affected communities and victims.
While both groups have expressed their intention to continue examining the alleged flood control anomalies, the dispute over the Blue Ribbon Committee's leadership has increasingly become a focal point of the investigation itself.
As the controversy continues, questions remain over how the Senate will proceed with the inquiry and whether the rival factions can eventually converge on a single investigative process.
