Senate blue ribbon invitation to 18 'ex-Marines' for flood control probe revoked —lawyer

The invitation to 18 individuals, who claimed to be former Marines and soldiers, for the resumption of the Senate hearing on the flood control mess on June 4 was revoked, their lawyer said on Tuesday.

Lawyer Levito Baligod said they received an invitation from the Senate blue ribbon committee, chaired by Senator Pia Cayetano, last June 1.

The invitation however was withdrawn later in the day in a separate email, a screenshot of which was posted by Baligod on Facebook. "Please be informed that upon the directive of the Chairperson Senator Pia S. Cayetano, the said invitations are hereby withdrawn," the message in the screenshot read.

“Mga Kababayan, dito natin makita kung ano ang pinagdadaanan ngayon ng naiiwang institusyon na nagpupumilit maging independent - ang ating Senado,” he said in a Facebook post.

(My fellow countrymen, this is where we see what the remaining institution that is trying hard to be independent—our Senate—is currently going through.)

“The Senate is undergoing immolation, courtesy of the minority bloc which is enabled by the executive and the HOR,” he added.

Following the flip on the sides at the Senate, Senators Rodante Marcoleta and Jinggoy Estrada were named as the blue ribbon panel’s vice chairpersons. But Estrada was arrested on Monday over plunder charges.

“Si Estrada kahapon, si Villanueva, Escudero at Marcoleta ang isusunod,” Baligod implied in his statement.

(Estrada yesterday, Villanueva, Escudero, and Marcoleta will be next.)

“Klaro na ngayon kung sino ang mga ayaw maimbistigahan ang trilyones na pagnanakaw sa kaban ng Bayan. Takot sila sa sasabihin ni Adrian Bersamin, Amenah Pangandaman, ang B18 at iba pa,” he added.

(It is clear now who does not want the trillions stolen from the nation's coffers to be investigated. They are afraid of what Adrian Bersamin, Amenah Pangandaman, the B18, and others will say.)

“The fall of the majority bloc is not only the fall of the Senate but the FALL of democratic institutions into the strong hands of Malacañan. I fear the forebodings.”

Majority senators accompanied Estrada during his arrest, leaving the minority senators waiting for two hours at the Senate’s session hall. No session was thus held which left the remaining senators disappointed.

There is no information yet if the hearing by the blue ribbon committee on Thursday will push through. However, Baligod claimed that he received information that it will still happen.

“Mga Kababayan, sa aking nakuhang impormasyon ay nag-aalala lamang ang ilang mga Senador sa maaari pang panggi-gipit na gagawin ng administrasyon sa mga kasapi sa majority bloc ng Senado. Sa ngayon, nalaman ko na MATUTULOY ang imbestigasyon ng Blue Ribbon Committee sa pinakamalaking nakawan sa kaban ng Bayan,” he said in another Facebook post.

(My fellow countrymen, based on the information I obtained, some Senators are merely worried about the potential further harassment that the administration might inflict on the members of the Senate's majority bloc. For now, I have learned that the Blue Ribbon Committee's investigation into the biggest theft of the nation's coffers WILL PROCEED.)

The camp of the alleged 18 former Marines asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) for an extension to file their counter-affidavits over complaints lodged against them in connection with their allegations involving alleged cash deliveries from former lawmaker Zaldy Co — a prominent personality in the flood control scandal. —KG, GMA News