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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Ombudsman says representative denied entry to Blue Ribbon hearing

Ombudsman says representative denied entry to Blue Ribbon hearing

Published Jun 5, 2026 03:23 pm
(Photos: Mico Clavano Facebook account/ Rodante Marcoleta Facebook page)
(Photos: Mico Clavano Facebook account/ Rodante Marcoleta Facebook page)
Amid criticism over its absence from a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) said its official representative was unable to attend after being denied entry at a Senate security checkpoint.
The clarification came after Senator Rodante Marcoleta hit the OMB over its failure to attend the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Thursday, June 4.
In a statement, Assistant Ombudsman Jose Dominic “Mico” Clavano IV said the OMB’s representative arrived at the Senate to attend the hearing but encountered problems at the entrance.
“Upon arrival, our representative was denied entry at the security checkpoint after the QR code she had registered for and received was declined by the automated system at the entrance,” he said.
Per the OMB, Senate personnel later offered to facilitate the representative’s entry as a guest of senators who were already present during the proceedings.
“There was an offer on the part of some Senate staff to enter as a guest of present Senators,” said Clavano.
The Ombudsman, however, decided not to proceed with the attendance after the matter was relayed to the office.
“However, when the offer was relayed to the office, there was a judgment call to no longer proceed seeing that the invitation to attend was sent by the Blue Ribbon Committee Secretariat and not by a particular Senator,” he explained.
The June 4 hearing was part of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s ongoing investigation into the alleged flood control scandal. 
It was presided over by Marcoleta as head of a Blue Ribbon subcommittee amid a leadership dispute within the Senate. 

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Ombudsman says representative denied entry Blue Ribbon hearing Senate OMB Clavano Marcoleta
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