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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Imee Marcos: Expect witnesses to recant in blue ribbon flood control probe

Imee Marcos: Expect witnesses to recant in blue ribbon flood control probe

Published Nov 12, 2025 04:25 pm

At A Glance

  • Witnesses in the upcoming Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing scheduled on Friday, Nov. 14, are expected to withdraw their statements after their families were threatened.
Witnesses in the upcoming Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing scheduled on Friday, Nov. 14, are expected to withdraw their statements after their families were threatened.
Senator Imee Marcos (Dhel Nazario/Manila Bulletin)
Senator Imee Marcos (Dhel Nazario/Manila Bulletin)
Senator Imee Marcos said this in an interview on Wednesday, Nov. 12, ahead of the continuation of the panel's probe into the anomalous flood control projects in the country.
"Ang mangyayari ngayon magrerecant ang mga testigo. Panoorin ninyo, sigurado ako diyan. Isa-isa yan na biglang babaligtad dahil prinessure, tinakot ang pamilya at halos tinutukan ang asawa't anak (What will happen now is that the witnesses will recant. Just watch — I’m sure of it. One by one, they’ll suddenly change their statements because they were pressured, their families were threatened, and their wives and children were practically held at gunpoint)," she said.
Asked if she was referring to Orly Guteza, Marcos replied, "Alam ninyo kung sino ang pinakamatindi ang testimonya (You know who has the strongest testimony)."
She did not specify who the other witnesses are.
Guteza's surprise testimony before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee in September implicated former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co in alleged cash deliveries.
Aside from this, Marcos added that those who wished to testify further were either kept out of sight or instructed to remain silent.
When asked who threatened the witnesses, she said, "Di ko alam. Yung mga kaya manakot at yung mga takot na takot na sila ang madadale (I don’t know. Those who have the power to intimidate — and those who are terrified that they’ll be the ones to get caught)."
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson confirmed that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will invite former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and 17 other members of the House of Representatives to the continuation of the panel’s inquiry into the anomalous flood control projects.
According to Marcos, Romualdez may not appear in the hearing.
"Nagbago yata isip, nahiya rin sa sarili (Seems like he changed his mind, and felt ashamed of himself)," Marcos said.
"Kasi ang dating narinig ko magiging state witness, siya ang magiging star witness, bibigyan ng witness protection, pwede ba naman yun? (Because what I previously heard was that he would become a state witness — the star witness — and would be given witness protection. But is that even allowed)" she added.

Related Tags

imee marcos Martin Romualdez Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Zaldy Co
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