Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said the so-called 18 former soldiers linked to the Marine Corps failed to divert public attention from the upcoming Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.
Alonto Adiong, a House spokesman in the impeachment trial, said the former soldiers’ appearance at the supposed Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing last Thursday backfired because the public saw through what he described as a diversionary effort.
“Yan naman talagang gusto nilang mangyari, ma-divert ang atensyon ng tao, mawala ang focus. Pero sa totoo lang, hindi sila naging successful. Mas lalong maraming nagalit sa kanila, kasi alam naman ng tao kung ano ang purpose noon,” he said in a radio interview.
He said the hearing appeared neither impartial nor legitimate, but was instead intended to amplify the narrative earlier presented by the former soldiers in press conferences.
“So the intention really is para magkaroon ng, you know, malihis talaga ang direction ng supposedly dapat gagawin ng Senado, which is to conduct a trial forthwith. Nag-convene na nga sila as impeachment court,” Alonto Adiong said.
“So I think there’s really that attempt na magkaroon ng diversion ng attention ng public o pag-uusapan para malihis tayo doon sa dapat talaga na ang pinag-uusapan na accountability,” he added.
“But unfortunately for them, they have failed measurably. Nag-flop nga yung kanilang palabas,” he stressed.
Alonto Adiong likened the hearing to a press conference, saying the only difference was that senators, not members of the media, were asking the questions.
“So, ang purpose talaga noon parang presscon. Ang kaibahan lang talaga ang nagtatanong sa kanila, this time hindi ang mga member ng media, ilan lang senador,” he said.
“Very obvious ‘yun sa taong bayan. Ang Pilipino, hindi mo sila puwedeng utuin. So alam nila kung ano ‘yung purpose noon talaga,” he added.
Alonto Adiong was among the lawmakers accused by the former soldiers of receiving millions in alleged kickbacks from anomalous or non-existent flood-control projects.
He categorically denied the allegation and said he is considering filing a case against them.
“I deny that. I categorically deny, I vehemently deny. Hindi ko nga sila mga kilala eh,” he said.
He said he initially did not want to dignify the accusations, calling them absurd, but changed his mind after the Senate was dragged into the issue.
“Nung una ayaw ko nang pansinin. Eh sabi ko lokohan na ito. Sabi ko it’s not worth my time, I mean it’s too absurd to even pay attention to it. Pero ito kasi this time, hindi lang personal issue na ito, umabot na ito dun sa punto na pati ang Senado nada-drag,” Alonto Adiong said.
He accused the former soldiers of using the Senate to give legitimacy to claims they had first aired in press conferences.
Alonto Adiong said he has consulted his lawyer on the possibility of bringing the matter to court, both to clear his name and to allow the allegations to be tested in the proper forum.
“So I think it deserves some form of, I think for the benefit of the people who are now being confused, also a chance for their allegations to be heard in the proper forum, which is the court,” he said.
He also objected to calling the group “ex-Marines,” saying they do not deserve to be associated with the institution.
“Kasi sa totoo lang, pag Marines kasi talagang dignified ng mga soldiers yan,” Alonto Adiong said.
“Hindi na dapat sila talagang tawaging Marines or ex-Marines. They don’t deserve to be labeled or to be associated with a distinguished institution like the Marines,” he added.
He also noted that the military had clarified that the former soldiers’ supposed involvement with resigned Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co happened after they had already been discharged from the Marine Corps.