Senator Rodante Marcoleta, on Monday, March 9, criticized the response to the allegations raised by a group of former military personnel in connection with the Senate’s ongoing investigation into alleged anomalies in the government's flood control projects.

In a privilege speech, Marcoleta questioned the response of the chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee after a lawyer presented a joint affidavit from several former servicemen claiming knowledge of alleged cash deliveries related to the controversy.

The panel's chairman is Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson.

Marcoleta recalled the February 24 press conference in which lawyer Levy Baligod presented a joint affidavit from 18 former members of the Philippine Marine Corps, a former enlisted personnel of the Philippine Army, and a reservist of the Philippine Army. According to Marcoleta, the affidavit alleged that the former servicemen were involved in delivering suitcases filled with cash to various recipients, purportedly under the instructions of businessman Zaldy Co.

The senator said the former military personnel had publicly expressed their willingness to testify about what they claimed to have witnessed, including the alleged transport of large amounts of money contained in suitcases, boxes, and other containers.

However, Marcoleta criticized the Blue Ribbon Committee leadership's response, saying their credibility was immediately questioned rather than being allowed to present their claims in a formal Senate hearing.

"Sa halip na iharap sa taong bayan at diretsahang tanungin sa kanilang mga pahayag, kaagad na pinag-alinlanganan ang kanilang kredibilidad. Bago pa man masuri ang kanilang salaysay sa harap ng Senado, tila ay nabuo na ang isang konklusyon sa mismong Chairman na dapat sana ay magsiyasat nito (Instead of presenting them to the public and directly questioning them about their statements, their credibility was immediately doubted. Even before their accounts could be examined before the Senate, it seemed that a conclusion had already been formed by the very Chairman who was supposed to investigate the matter)," Marcoleta said.

Marcoleta argued that dismissing the claims outright undermined the purpose of a legislative inquiry, which he said should be to examine allegations and test the veracity of statements through a formal hearing process.

He said that if the testimonies of the former servicemen were considered doubtful or questionable, the proper course of action would have been to summon them before the committee so their statements could be scrutinized under oath.

“Kung ang kanilang mga pahayag ay hindi kapani-paniwala, lalong nararapat na sila ay paharapin sa isang pormal na pagdinig upang doon mismo masubok ang kanilang inihayag (If their statements are unbelievable, then it is all the more appropriate that they be made to face a formal hearing so that what they have stated can be tested there),” the senator said.

Marcoleta added that the witnesses themselves had indicated that they were ready to testify about what they claimed to have seen, including where the cash-filled containers were allegedly delivered and to whom they were supposedly handed.

The senator also raised concerns about the decision-making process within the Blue Ribbon Committee regarding which individuals are invited to testify.

He questioned whether the committee chair alone had the authority to determine which witnesses would be summoned, noting that the panel is composed of around 20 members who could have been consulted on such decisions. He also asked whether other senators who are members of the panel were consulted before the alleged witnesses were effectively set aside.

“Were the members of the committee consulted one by one?” he said.

“Was there a caucus? Was there even a hearing to decide such an important matter?” he added.

Marcoleta said the former servicemen had spoken bravely about what they claimed to have witnessed and were willing to testify about the alleged deliveries of large sums of money.

He maintained that the committee should allow the individuals to appear in a formal hearing so their statements could be properly examined and verified.

The senator warned that immediately dismissing potential witnesses without hearing their testimony could weaken the Senate’s investigation and prevent the public from obtaining answers regarding the alleged irregularities in flood control projects.

Earlier, Lacson raised questions about the logic and basic math in the claims made by Baligod.

He said that aside from the logistical nightmare of moving 805 metric tons of paper cash, there is also the time factor in unloading, counting, repacking, reloading, and delivering the money. He said this would take until at least 2027, even if those involved worked 24/7.