Imee insists Senate duty to probe 18 'ex-Marines' claims

Senator Imee Marcos questioned Tuesday why there are fears to investigate the alleged delivery by supposed former members of the Philippine Marine Corps of cash to various individuals, saying that it is the duty of the Senate to examine such claims.

This, after Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, made a privilege speech on Monday, raising questions of “logic and mathematics” over the allegations of the 18 supposed ex-Marines.

Marcos emphasized that since there are doubts regarding the veracity of the claim, then the Senate has to pursue it more and allow the individuals to explain and substantiate their allegations under scrutiny.

“This is not about whether the affidavits of the eighteen former members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines deserve to be dignified. When accusations of such seriousness are made under pain of perjury, the duty of our institution is not to ignore them, but to examine them,” she said in a statement.

“Whether the allegations are proven true or exposed as false, truth can only emerge through investigation. The question therefore remains: why should there be any fear of an inquiry?”

Marcos also pointed out that the investigation would protect not only the public interest, but also the reputations of those accused, including senators who were implicated.

“Should the investigation ultimately reveal that the allegations are fabricated, then justice equally demands that those who maliciously dragged the names of others into controversy be held accountable,” she said.

“The Senate should not allow the reputation of several of its members, including the Senate President himself, to be besmirched, if such is the case,” she added.

To recall, lawyer Levito Baligod and the 18 ex-Marines accused several individuals of allegedly receiving cash from former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co.

They also alleged that Co and former senator Antonio Trillanes IV funded the hotel accommodations of International Criminal Court (ICC) investigators, and that cash were delivered to the house of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in Ilocos Norte.

Malacañang and various personalities implicated in the alleged payoffs have denied the allegations, while the ICC Office of the Prosecutor said that its activities are funded by the ICC.

Lacson on Monday said he was criticized for not inviting the supposed ex-soldiers to testify in the legislative inquiry on the flood control scandal.

He explained that he raised the question about the matter “to ensure that the testimonies withstand established facts and logic before we even invite them to testify.”

“If their statements appear to be demonstrably false and physically impossible to accomplish, wouldn’t convening a hearing effectively validate and dignify disinformation?” Lacson said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News