Investigations into the alleged flood control scam carry stakes far heavier than the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, and the Senate cannot afford to shelve one for the other, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano argued in a recent vlog.
He framed the choice as a test of the chamber’s priorities. Pushing the impeachment forward while parking the corruption inquiry, he said, would amount to a double standard.
“Kasi kung ang gusto ng administrasyon ay kalimutan muna natin lahat ng ibang corruption, impeachment muna kasi importante ‘to, then that’s selective justice, ‘di ba?” Cayetano said.
His main demand was the revival of Blue Ribbon Committee hearings, which he tied directly to the size of the sums in question.
“Kasi kung sasabihin po natin ay sige, we’re getting organized, okay. Pero kung sasabihin niyo, ‘Uy, tapusin natin impeachment. Wala muna ang blue ribbon hearing.’ Sandali lang. Napakalaki, mas malaki yung pinag-uusapan nating amounts eh, ‘di ba?… Why not call a blue ribbon hearing? Why not ask both the administration and the opposition sinong gusto niyong witnesses?” he said.
The minority leader also went after two figures connected to the committee. He accused former chair Panfilo Lacson of a talent for clearing names: “So kung gusto niyo ng pampaputi, punta kayo kay Senator Lacson kasi magaling mag-whitewash. O baka may ano yan, may pampaputi, ‘di ba?”
Current chair Erwin Tulfo drew separate criticism for proposing that fresh evidence should surface before any new hearing proceeds. Cayetano countered that uncovering evidence is the point of an investigation, not a precondition for one.
“Hindi po ganun. ‘Pag nag-iimbestiga ka, ikaw naghuhukay. Ikaw nag-i-investigate. Ikaw nag-uncover,” he said.
He further pressed Tulfo over remarks on claims raised by 18 former Marines tied to the controversy: “Kaya nagtataka nga ako kay Senator Erwin ba’t nagko-comment pa about the eighteen eh sabi niya magi-inhibit siya at si Senator Pangilinan na dapat ang mag-hearing diyan.”
Cayetano returned repeatedly to the conduct expected of senators once the impeachment trial begins, citing the rule binding them to impartiality.
“Senator shall observe political neutrality during the course of impeachment trial… Political neutrality shall be defined as an exercise of public official’s duty without unfair discrimination and regardless of party affiliation or preference,” he said, adding that fairness must hold whether a senator sits with the administration or the opposition.
He closed his commentary by turning on Tindig Pilipinas and Kiko Dee, grandson of the late President Cory Aquino and former senator Ninoy Aquino, over an Ombudsman complaint lodged against him.
“I just wanna congratulate them for doing the job for the administration… Just remember who you are, Kiko… Aquino ka, hindi ka Kiko D. Marcos, ‘di ba? So don’t get instructions from the administration,” Cayetano said.
The same wave of vlogs surfaced denials from other senators caught up in the flood control allegations. Senate President Francis Escudero rejected an account from former staff of ex-congressman Zaldy Co that suitcases of cash had been handed to him, pointing to a long-running falling-out between the two men.
“To answer you directly, hindi na ako nagulat pero tahasang kong sasabihin hindi totoo yan dahil magkagalit kami ni Congressman Co sa mahabang panahon… At imposibleng mangyari yan,” Escudero said, arguing that corruption questions should be kept clear of partisan maneuvering.
Senator Imee Marcos used her own vlog to describe the strain on Escudero and Senator Joel Villanueva, while batting down talk of a falling-out with detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada, another name linked to the controversy.
“Katakot-takot na pressure, katakot-takot na kaso… Ang pinagdadasal ko na lamang ay sa mga susunod na buwan, makikita din namin ang kanilang mga boto sa impeachment, sa budget, sa Blue Ribbon,” Marcos said.
