Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian said the flood control projects hearing conducted last week by the faction of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano cannot be considered an official committee hearing because it was not sanctioned by newly elected Blue Ribbon Committee chair Sen. Erwin Tulfo.
In a recorded interview with radio dzBB shared with the Senate media, Gatchalian said the proceeding held by the Cayetano bloc on Thursday last week, where 18 former escorts and bodyguards of former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co testified against several government officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., was merely a consultative meeting.
“Yung mga consultative meetings, nangyayari naman yan sa Senado…I would call it a gathering or a meeting but does not form part of the records kasi hindi siya official,” Gatchalian said.
Gatchalian said the resource persons and even the senators who attended the “meeting” last Thursday do not enjoy “parliamentary immunity” and may be sued by those they allegedly maligned or accused of receiving suitcases filled with money, which were reportedly kickbacks from flood control projects.
He said that if the senators insist on holding another Blue Ribbon Committee “hearing” in the future, he would allow it to be held in the Senate since it would be treated as a consultative meeting. However, he reminded them to strictly observe security protocols.
Gatchalian said the hearing called by Sen. Erwin Tulfo would proceed today, Monday, June 8, at 9 a.m.
He said the 18 former escorts and bodyguards of Co would be invited to attend the hearing. He also reminded them to appear if they are truly after the truth, as they have been claiming.
“Kung ikaw ang nalalaman mo ay katotohanan, dapat pumunta ka…para magsabi ka ng katotohanan…Dapat pumunta kasi alam mo na katotohanan yung sinasabi mo. Hindi puwedeng pumili ka lang ng venue. Kung kakampi mo lang, pupuntahan mo. Kung di mo kakampi, hindi mo pupuntahan ang katotohanan ay kahit saan, katotohanan ’yan,” he added.
Gatchalian said that if the 18 escorts and bodyguards skip the hearing, the Senate may compel their attendance through its subpoena powers.