House prosecutor and Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon and former Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers denied allegations linking them to supposed cash-filled suitcase deliveries, saying the disputed Senate activity was meant to divert public attention from the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Ridon rejected the testimony of Jowly Cadiao, who allegedly linked him to a suitcase delivery during the Senate proceeding led by ousted Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and replaced Blue Ribbon Committee chair Sen. Rodante Marcoleta.
“Kasinungalingan ang testimonya ni Jowly Cadiao. Walang maleta na idineliver sa akin sa kahit anumang panahon o sa kahit saan mang lugar,” Ridon, chair of the House Committee on Public Accounts, said.
Ridon said the impeachment trial should proceed in the proper forum and must not be derailed by what he described as false testimony and political antics.
“Tandaan: Tuloy ang impeachment trial. Walang kasinungalingan o gawa-gawang testimonya ang makapipigil sa House prosecution panel na magtuloy sa paglalahad ng katotohanan sa paglilitis ng Pangalawang Pangulo,” he said.
Barbers also dismissed the allegations raised in the Senate activity, saying the witnesses should answer before the courts, especially after some of them had already been sued by individuals they previously implicated.
“Sa korte na lang kayo magpaliwanag,” Barbers said.
Barbers, who led the House Quad Committee during the 19th Congress and formerly chaired the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, described the proceeding as a political operation aimed at discrediting the House and shifting attention away from Duterte’s impeachment case.
“While I cannot comment on the case I filed against these people, I would like to point out that the ongoing meeting is a serious political destabilization effort and meant to divert attention from the impeachment of VP Sara to the alleged flood control scandal,” Barbers said.
He said the proper venues for the allegations are the local courts handling related cases and the International Criminal Court, which he said has already ruled on its jurisdiction over complaints involving former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Barbers also questioned the credibility of the testimony, saying the alleged witnesses could not personally confirm the source or contents of the supposed payout money.
“That’s incredible! This is the tone now being sung by these people. Imagine their statements as to the source of the alleged payout money. Not a single one of them ever saw nor touched the alleged money,” Barbers said.
“All they are saying are maletas, paper bags and envelopes. Any lawyer worth his salt will never dignify such storytelling-a-lie by any witness. I hope that the proper courts are taking note of this charade in the name of justice,” he added.