Senators absent at offsite ‘Blue Ribbon hearing’

MANILA, Philippines — An event branded as a Senate inquiry into the flood control scandal pushed through yesterday in Mandaluyong, without any senator attending the event.

Organized by allies of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano’s bloc, the gathering was initially canceled after the venue provider backed out, but it later pushed through.

With the 18 self-styled bagmen rehashing their claims, only their lawyer Levito Baligod, former congressman Michael Defensor and supporters of the Duterte family “interpellated.”

Baligod claimed that Sen. Pia Cayetano and other senators were “intimidated and threatened” into not attending the “hearing.” He did not elaborate on the nature of the alleged threat.

Before the start of the event, Sen. Imee Marcos joined supporters to express solidarity. But after being barred from entering the venue, she left and did not return when the event pushed through.

Defensor admitted that the event was “not an official Blue Ribbon hearing.”

Acting Blue Ribbon committee chair Sen. Erwin Tulfo warned that charges of usurpation of authority could be filed against Defensor’s group.

Any senator attending the event could be slapped with an ethics case, Tulfo added.

The new Senate majority under acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian has criticized organizers for holding the “unauthorized” and “sham” event.

Pro-Duterte vloggers cheered as the 18 men implicated majority Sens. Vicente Sotto III, Francis Escudero and Tulfo, as well as Sen. Mark Villar, in an alleged kickback scheme.

At the event, former Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson claimed he has evidence proving President Marcos and former House speaker Martin Romualdez are the “masterminds” behind the “plunder of public funds.”

No evidence was presented.