18 alleged ‘bodyguards’ snub Erwin Tulfo-led blue ribbon panel meeting (original) (raw)

Busy day at the Senate on Monday. INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — The 18 alleged bagmen of former Rep. Zaldy Co were a no-show at Monday’s meeting of the Senate blue ribbon committee led by newly-installed chairman, Sen. Erwin Tulfo.

According to Tulfo, the 18 individuals, who were dubbed as “bodyguards” instead of former Marines as they were previously called, were invited to the meeting, but they opted to go to the office of Sen. Robin Padilla.

“We would just like to inform everyone that the 18 former bodyguards are here in this building, at the office of Senator Robin Padilla, together with Atty. (Levito) Baligod,” the panel chairman said.

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READ: Erwin Tulfo-led blue ribbon panel resumes flood control probe

Baligod is the lawyer of the 18 individuals, who claimed they delivered P805 billion in alleged kickbacks from anomalous flood-control projects to certain government officials and lawmakers.

“Despite our invitation for them to attend the hearing, they instead chose to go to the office of Senator Robin Padilla, where they monitored proceedings, went live, and held a press conference, along with the 18 former bodyguards,” Tulfo said.

“They are here in the building—the 18, together with Atty. Baligod—but they do not want to go down to our hearing. Instead, they are at the office of Senator Robin Padilla,” the senator added.

The 18 individuals were all present last week in an alleged hearing conducted by senators allied to Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.

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Tufo said that supposed hearing was conducted “outside established Senate rules and institutional processes.”

“Simply put, it was not a legitimate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing. It was irregular, a “hao shao”, a make-believe investigation masquerading as an official Senate proceeding,” he said during Monday’s meeting.

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In his opening statement, Tulfo clarified that the convening of the committee was just a meeting and organizational briefing.

It was because the panel has yet to elect all its member since the new chairman was just installed on June 3, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan explained during the meeting.

“And since not all members have been elected, the committee has not yet been constituted, although the chairperson has already been elected,” Pangilinan, a lawyer, pointed out.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives declined the committee’s invitation to five lawmakers, including former Speaker Martin Romualdez, citing parliamentary courtesy.

The four other members of the House of Representatives invited to the meeting were Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, Palawan Rep. Jose Alvarez, Iloilo Rep. Jullienne “Jam” Baronda, and Lanao del Sur Rep. Ziaur-Rhaman “Zia” Alonto Adiong.

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National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag was among the resource persons who attended the meeting. /mr