Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday said the move to alter the Senate leadership structure proved earlier warnings that key committees were being targeted to derail the ongoing investigation into the alleged flood control scandal.
“We warned everyone about this from day one,” Cayetano said in a livestream as he addressed the developments inside the Senate.
Cayetano said the issue was not about improving Senate operations or resolving a legislative deadlock, but about stopping the Blue Ribbon Committee from proceeding with its scheduled hearing.
“Sabi nila, ginawa nila ito kasi naiipit ang trabaho. Pero wala naman po silang ginawa ngayon kung hindi baguhin ang mga committee para walang Blue Ribbon Committee hearing bukas, para hindi maimbitahan ang labing walong Marines. Pinalitan nila ang presiding officer,” he said.
The Blue Ribbon Committee was set to continue its inquiry and hear from invited resource persons, including military personnel linked to matters under review.
Cayetano said even those behind what he described as an illegal “coup d’état” had been invited to the proceedings.
“Invited po pati po yung mga gumawa ng illegal [coup d’état] ngayon. ’Pag hindi po kami pinapasok… ’pag in-outside the kulambo niyo ang mga legitimate leaders ng Senado, para niyo na pong sinabing sinunog niyo po ang Philippine Constitution,” he said, addressing his fellow senators.
He questioned why the first action of those pushing the leadership changes was to take control of committees instead of focusing on legislation or the Senate’s pending responsibilities.
“So this is their answer to the crisis they made from May 11 till now? Ako’y nakikiusap sa lahat. Correct your mistakes. The country is already in an economic crisis,” Cayetano said.
He maintained that the flood control investigation must proceed, saying the public deserves answers on the use of billions of pesos in government funds.
“We need to investigate the flood control scam in a very impartial way that will be satisfactory to all our people,” he said.
Cayetano warned that attempts to interfere with the probe would only deepen public suspicion that powerful interests were trying to avoid scrutiny.
“You can try to stop us, but you will be stopping the Filipino people,” he said.
Despite the leadership dispute, Cayetano vowed that the investigation would continue and said the majority would pursue accountability despite political pressure.
“They can try to remove me, but they will not kill the idea of a democratic Philippines led not by men but by laws, led by the Philippine Constitution,” he said.