Venue cancels Cayetano-bloc 'blue ribbon' hearing, but gathering proceeds
MANILA, Philippines (3:26 p.m.) — A commercial venue in Mandaluyong City canceled the Cayetano bloc's disputed off-site Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Tuesday, June 16, but a gathering tied to the proceeding still went on at the site without senators present.
Doublegem EDSA Garden Events Place earlier said in a statement that the scheduled Senate meeting at the venue would not proceed.
"We would also like to reiterate that Doublegem EDSA Garden Events Place has no affiliation whatsoever with the organizers, participants, or subject matter of the event. Our role was solely that of an independent events venue provider," the venue said.
The post was later deleted.
Despite the cancellation, the gathering at the Mandaluyong venue continued. No senators were present, and the event was led instead by former lawmaker Mike Defensor and lawyer Levi Baligod, counsel for the former soldiers expected to testify.
According to multiple reports, former Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson and Sens. Imee Marcos and Pia Cayetano arrived at the venue. Marcos, however, said she was not allowed to enter the events place.
Supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte also gathered outside the venue in support of the hearing, chanting, "Duterte! Duterte!"
Police were later deployed to the area to control the crowd, which had spilled into EDSA, a major thoroughfare.
Eighteen former soldiers who claim to be bagmen of fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co were expected to continue giving accounts on the alleged embezzlement of public flood control funds.
As of writing, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano has yet to issue a statement on the disruption.
Disputed hearing
The off-site hearing by senators from the Cayetano bloc was first announced by Defensor in a social media post.
Sen. Erwin Tulfo, who leads the Blue Ribbon Committee appointed by the majority-recognized Gatchalian bloc, disowned the proceeding and said it was unauthorized.
This was not the first time the Cayetano bloc held what the Gatchalian bloc described as an unauthorized inquiry.
On June 4, Cayetano-bloc senators forced their way into a Senate hall to hold a supposed hearing with the former soldiers. It was presided over by Cayetano, his sister Sen. Pia Cayetano and Sen. Rodante Marcoleta.
The proceeding was conducted without the Senate secretary present and without stenographers to record it, indicating that it was not sanctioned by the institution. — with John Marwin Elao and reports from One PH
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