Marcoleta suspends flood control probe until further notice

Senator Rodante Marcoleta, subcommittee chairman of the Senate blue ribbon under the bloc led by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, on Thursday suspended until further notice the panel’s inquiry into allegations of corruption involving flood control funds, saying additional evidence must first be gathered and verified.

The suspension came after a hearing that featured the testimony of 18 former Marines who alleged that money linked to flood control projects had been delivered to various individuals.

Before the proceedings were halted, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano questioned why the investigation was not being pursued more aggressively.

“Mr. Chairman, ang issue kasi here ay bakit ayaw ituloy ito (the issue here is why they do not want this to continue),” Cayetano said, raising concerns about what he described as possible selective justice in the handling of witnesses and evidence.

“If ginamit nina Senator (Vicente) Sotto at Senator (Panfilo) Lacson for false accusation or selective justice (if this was used by Senators Sotto and Lacson for false accusations or selective justice), because lumalabas dito magkakampi ang DOJ, Ombudsman at witnesses (it appears that the DOJ, the Ombudsman and the witnesses are on the same side),” he said.

“At sila ang nakakapili kung sino ang state witness at hindi (and they are the ones choosing who becomes a state witness and who does not),” he added.

Cayetano said he was surprised by the reaction to the hearings, noting that some testimonies had allegedly mentioned personalities connected to senators.

“Alam mo noong nag-umpisa ito hindi natin kalaban ang Malacañang (When this started, Malacañang was not our adversary). Nagulat kami kaya pala ayaw ituloy ito (We were surprised to learn why they did not want this to continue),” he said.

“Yun pala, may mga personality na nababanggit from the 11 senators (It turned out that personalities linked to the 11 senators were being mentioned),” he added.

The senators mentioned have sine denied the allegations. The bloc led by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian also described the hearing as "bogus."

Another hearing

Cayetano urged the committee to hold another hearing as soon as next week despite the ongoing dispute over Senate leadership.

“I think it’s very important that we schedule a hearing next week,” Cayetano said.

“I’m willing to give (up) the Senate presidency just so that masunod yung Constitution (the Constitution will be followed). But I’m not willing to give up the truth. Kailangang matuloy itong hearing na ito (This hearing must continue),” he added.

Marcoleta, for his part, said he remains committed to pursuing the inquiry despite challenges confronting the committee.

“Like you, I do not wish to hold the chairmanship of the Blue ribbon (sub)committee. Hindi ko ginusto ito, naibigay lang sa akin noong unang pagkakataon (I did not seek this position; it was simply entrusted to me the first time),” Marcoleta said.

“Gusto kong gawin din alang-alang sa bansa ngunit tinanggal sa akin (I wanted to do it for the country, but it was taken away from me). Ngayon ay pinipilit naming buhayin ulit para sa ganon ay malaman na ng bayan ang katotohanan (Now we are trying to revive it so the public can know the truth), ngunit dumadaan tayo sa napakaraming pagsubok (but we are facing many challenges),” he added.

Marcoleta also said he would not object if another lawmaker takes over over the committee, provided the investigation would continue seriously.

“Sinuman ang gustong humawak ng responsibilidad na ito, okay lang po sa amin (Whoever wants to take on this responsibility is fine with us), basta sana magkaroon lamang sila ng kaseryosohan sa pananagutan na gawin natin ito (as long as they are serious about carrying out this responsibility),” he said.

Before the hearing ended, Cayetano proposed that the committee suspend rather than adjourn the proceedings so that existing invitations to witnesses and resource persons would remain valid.

“May I suggest that we simply suspend instead of adjourn so that the invitations are still valid and then also if we need to meet sooner it will be easier to inform everyone,” Cayetano said.

Marcoleta agreed, explaining that the committee still needed to verify details contained in the joint sworn statement submitted by the former Marines.

“Marami po tayong kukunin (We still have a lot to gather),” Marcoleta said.

“Yung binanggit po ninyong addresses kung saan dinala yung mga pera (the addresses you mentioned where the money was allegedly delivered), may ipatatawag po tayong mga tao para i-confirm na naideliver (we will summon people to confirm whether the deliveries were made),” he said.

He added that the committee would also seek to verify the vehicles, security personnel, license plate numbers and other details mentioned in the testimony.

The committee chairman then formally suspended the proceedings.

“We suspend the hearing until further notice. Makakakuha po kayo ng notice mula sa committee kung kailan po natin itutuloy, anong araw at anong oras (You will receive notice from the committee regarding when the hearing will resume, including the date and time),” he said. — RSJ, GMA News