LIVE UPDATES: Gatchalian bloc holds Senate blue ribbon hearing on flood control (June 8, 2026)

The 18 individuals claiming they delivered cash to politicians from former congressman Zaldy Co will reveal everything they know before the Office of the Ombudsman, their legal counsel said Monday.

Lawyer Levito Baligod said the affidavit is only the “initial” information and all details will be revealed during the Ombudsman’s investigation.

“Doon sa Ombudsman investigation, ‘yun ang medyo proper, no? So iisa-isahin ‘yan. Merong panel of investigators so doon nila ibibigay lahat pati ‘yung mga pictures, videos, doon lahat,” he said in an ambush interview when asked when they will reveal everything.

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday warned the 18 alleged former Marines that skipping the Blue Ribbon Committee’s flood control scandal probe, chaired by Senator Erwin Tulfo, may result in the issuance of subpoenas and show-cause orders against them.

“Inaasahan ko rin na i-imbitahan ng chair itong 18 ex-bodyguards sa hearing kapag fully constituted na yung committee, and dapat hindi nila baliwalain yung imbitasyon ng komite dahil pag ginawa pa nila yun magiging subject sila sa subpoena at show cause order, at higit pa, sa komite,” Hontiveros said during the consultative meeting.

Senator Erwin Tulfo on Monday said he will inhibit from the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s inquiry into alleged anomalous flood control projects.

Tulfo, chairperson of the Gatchalian-led Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, made the statement after the 18 alleged bagmen of resigned Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co implicated him in the flood control controversy during the June 3 meeting led by senators belonging to the Cayetano bloc.

“Definitely, ‘yung sinasabi nila mag-i-inhibit, definitely mag-i-inhibit ako. Plano ko nga sana ‘yan, kaso meeting pa lang ito. Kapag sa proper hearing, I will announce I will inhibit,” the senator said in a chance interview.

(Definitely, what they are saying that I will inhibit—I will definitely inhibit. That was actually my plan, but this is just a meeting. In the proper hearing, I will announce that I will inhibit.)

Senators on Monday questioned the credibility of the supposed 18 former Marines who allegedly delivered kickbacks to certain officials.

During the consultative meeting of the Gatchalian-bloc Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on the anomalous flood control projects, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, vice chairperson of the powerful panel, reiterated the reorganization of the Senate was constitutional and said the June 4 hearing was "illegal."

Pangilinan also explained the Senate committee held a meeting instead of a hearing "to facilitate the orderly transition and continuity of the committee's work pending the completion of its reorganization and membership and formal constitution of the Committee".

"We reiterate therefore that the so-called Blue Ribbon Committee hearing conducted last conducted last Thursday, June 4, was illegal, void ab initio, and had no binding effect," Pangilinan said.

Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Monday explained why the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee convened a committee meeting rather than a formal hearing as it tackled allegations involving anomalous flood control projects.

Pangilinan, a member of the bloc led by acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, said the panel has yet to be fully constituted because not all of its members have been elected following recent leadership changes in the Senate.

"Kaya ito ay hindi hearing at ito ay committee meeting, consultative meeting, ay dahil kinikilala natin na hindi pa nahahalal ang lahat ng miyembro ng Committee on Public Accountability at dahil hindi pa nahahalal lahat ng miyembro, hindi pa constituted ang committee," Pangilinan said.

(This is not a hearing but a committee meeting, a consultative meeting, because we recognize that not all members of the Committee on Public Accountability have been elected yet. Since not all members have been elected, the committee has not yet been fully constituted.)

Senator Erwin Tulfo, chairperson of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, on Monday suspended a consultative meeting on the alleged anomalous flood control projects “until further notice” following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao.

Tulfo cut short the meeting in light of the quake, expressing solidarity with affected communities.

“We sympathize with the victims of the earthquake in Mindanao. Tatapusin na muna natin (We will end for now)," he said.

"We suspend this meeting bilang paggalang sa mga biktima ng matinding lindol sa Mindanao (as a sign of respect for the victims of the strong earthquake in Mindanao),” the senator added.

The 18 individuals who claimed to be former personnel of the Philippine Marine Corps who allegedly delivered kickbacks to government officials arrived at the Senate on Monday as the Gatchalian bloc-led Senate blue ribbon committee held an investigation into flood control projects.

Lawyer Levito Baligod, their legal counsel, accompanied the alleged former Marines.

Senator Robin Padilla invited Baligod and the 18 alleged ex-Marines to go up to his office, as could be seen in his Facebook live.

Earlier, the Senate panel initially deemed the group absent. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano earlier warned the group that the June 8 flood control probe is unauthorized.

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director General Melvin Matibag also arrived at the chamber to attend the probe.

"This is the legitimate blue ribbon committee so we have to be here," he told reporters in a chance interview.

Aside from the 18 alleged former Marines, other resource persons who were invited in the legislative inquiry were former House speaker Martin Romualdez, ML Party-list Representative Leila de Lima, and Fr. Flavie Villanueva, among others.

Last week, the bloc led by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano held its own blue ribbon committee probe. During the hearing, the 18 alleged former Marines implicated some incumbent lawmakers in the flood control mess such as Senators Erwin Tulfo and Vicente "Tito" Sotto III. —KG, GMA News

The Senate tightened security on Monday as the Gatchalian bloc scheduled a blue ribbon committee hearing into flood control projects on Monday, June 8.

Newly appointed Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Retired Police Major General Alfredo Sotto Corpus was seen checking the premises of the Senate, according to GMA News reporter Sandra Aguinaldo.

VIDEO: Naglilibot ang bagong Senate Sergeant-at-Arms na si Retired Police Major General Alfredo Sotto Corpus sa gusali ng Senado. Ngayon ang pagdinig ni Blue Ribbon Committee sa pangunguna ni Sen. Erwin Tulfo. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/ZKKmM6Iaex

— sandra aguinaldo (@sandraguinaldo) June 7, 2026

At the Senate session hall, K-9 units were deployed for additional checks as secretariat staff arrived for the 9 a.m. hearing, according to GMA News reporter Ian Cruz and Super Radyo dzBB reporter Nimfa Ravelo.

Nagsagawa na rin ng paneling ang EPD-K9 unit ng PNP sa Senado para sa dagdag seguridad sa gagawing pagdinig ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee ukol sa flood control scam. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/E8vlctFjUx

— Ian Cruz (@_iancruz) June 8, 2026

Naghahanda ngayon sa Senate session hall para sa Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing ukol sa flood control scam. Dumating ang mga BRC secretariat staff na hindi sumipot sa sariling hearing/pulong ng Cayetano faction nung June 4. @dzbb pic.twitter.com/pEe5FJarM3

— Nimfa R. Ravelo (@nimfaravelo) June 8, 2026

Puspusan na ang paghahanda sa isasagawang pagdinig ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee dito sa Session Hall ng Senado. Magsisimula ito 9am ng umaga. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/jk2kqzINXt

— Ian Cruz (@_iancruz) June 8, 2026

Senator Erwin Tulfo, chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee, announced on Wednesday that the panel's investigation into the anomalous flood control projects will be moved to Monday, June 8. —KG, GMA News