Venue withdraws from hosting Cayetano bloc-led flood control hearing

The hearing on the flood control controversy to be led by the Cayetano bloc has yet to start Tuesday morning after the management of the venue set to host it announced that the gathering will no longer proceed as scheduled.

In a statement, Doublegem EDSA Garden Events Place said the planned event at its venue "will no longer proceed as originally planned."

The management did not provide further details on the reason for the cancellation.

"We would also like to reiterate that Doublegem EDSA Garden Events Place has no affiliation whatsoever with the organizers, participants, or subject matter of the event. Our role was solely that of an independent events venue provider," the statement read.

Doublegem likewise distanced itself from the event and any issues related to it.

It said any developments regarding the gathering should be obtained from the organizers themselves.

"Any updates regarding the event, including any future arrangements or announcements, will be communicated through their appropriate official channels," it said.

The management also thanked the public for its understanding and cooperation.

Doublegem EDSA Garden Events Place later deleted its post on its social media page.

Outside the venue, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio told their supporters not to leave.

"Tuloy, ang instruction sa akin ni former secretary Mike Defensor ay tuloy po ito...may mga kasama ako na hindi pa pwedeng papasukin, maya maya pa. Iniinform ko lang yung mga dumalo dito na wag silang aalis kasi tuloy po tayo," he said.

Topacio, however, did not answer when asked what time the gathering would start.

Journalists and vloggers have been outside the venue as early as 8 a.m. The event was supposed to start at 10 a.m.

Senator Imee Marcos and former Ilocos Sur governor Luis "Chavit" Singson also arrived but they were not allowed to enter the venue.

"Hindi kami pinapapasok 'yun ang problema...naghahanap kami ng mapayapang pamamaraan para matuloy ang pagdinig sa iba't ibang testigo hinggil sa flood control. Lalabas din ang katotohanan," Marcos told reporters.

In a statement, Marcos urged the public to be vigilant amid alleged efforts to curtail our rights and freedom.

"Tayo ay magpahayag at makilahok sa mga mapayapa at mahinahong pagkilos; upang maipaabot natin sa administrasyon ang ating pandidiri sa garapal at walang puknat na oras-oras, araw-araw at linggo-linggong panggigipit, pananakot, pagbabanta sa mga walang ibang nais kundi ilabas ang katotohanan," she said.

In an interview with Super Radyo dzBB, Senator Erwin Tulfo questioned the legitimacy of the supposed hearing saying it cannot be considered as an official Blue Ribbon committee proceeding.

"'Yun ay siguro press conference or media forum pero hindi 'yun mako-consider na Blue Ribbon hearing (That may be a press conference or media forum, but it cannot be considered a Blue Ribbon hearing)," he said.

He added the gathering can also be considered as usurpation of authority if the Cayetano bloc will insist on calling it as a Blue Ribbon hearing.

"Pag-aaralan 'yang ginagawa nila kasi hindi naman puwedeng anytime, hahanap sila ng lugar, magpapatawag na Blue Ribbon hearing eh hindi naman Blue Ribbon eh 'yan malinaw na usurpation of authority 'yan dahil hindi naman sila ang Blue Ribbon (What they are doing will be studied because they cannot just book a venue anytime and call it a Blue Ribbon hearing. That is clearly a usurpation of authority because they are not the Blue Ribbon committee)," he said.

Tulfo then encouraged all members of the Blue Ribbon committee, including Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Rodante Marcoleta, to participate in the special session on Wednesday.

"Inaanyayahan ko sila na mag-attend kasi lahat na sila miyembro ng Blue Ribbon para wala na lang masabi pati si Sen. Marcoleta, Sen. Cayetano, 'yung 2 Cayetano. So, member na sila ng Blue Ribbon 'matic (I am inviting them to attend because they are all members of the Blue Ribbon committee now, including Senator Marcoleta and Senator Cayetano—the two Cayetanos. That way, no one can say otherwise because they are automatically members of the Blue Ribbon committee)," he said.

Tulfo added that he would welcome Cayetano's participation in the session.

"Sana mag-attend siya (Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano) para the more, the merrier ika nga. Mas maganda 'yun (I hope Senator Alan Peter Cayetano attends. The more the merrier, as they say. That would be better)," he said. —AOL, GMA News