A DAY after the so-called SB-11 pulled off a stunt that stripped the majority bloc chairmanship on various committees, Senate members identified to Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano pursued a hearing on the notoriously famous flood control scandal — even after losing chairmanship of the blue ribbon committee.
But before the hearing began, Senator Robin Padilla clashed with Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, who allegedly tried to prevent former partylist Rep. Mike Defensor and 18 retired Philippine Marine soldiers from entering the Senate building.
Media footage on Facebook however showed that Remulla was on his way out when the crowd of 18 alleged marines and Cayetano, Defensor and Padilla entered.
According to Remulla, “I was walking out when I was pushed aside.”
The Secretary explained that he was present at the Senate on the request of Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian to help maintain order and protect the premises.
The conflict occurred while Padilla and a group of 18 individuals entered the building to attend the blue ribbon committee hearing as “resource persons” in relation to the flood control scandal.
Asked if Remulla tried to block the entry of the senator and his companions, the DILG chief said: “How can I do that? I was alone.”
Another FB account of News5 said: “Nagkatulakan sina Sec. Jonvic Remulla at Sen. Robin Padilla sa Senado matapos umanong pigilan si Sen. Pia Cayetano na makapasok sa session hall ngayong Huwebes, June 4.”
“Kasabay ito ng isinasagawang pagdinig ng Senate Blue Ribbon panel ukol sa flood control scandal ngayong araw.”
“Matatandaan na nauna nang sinabi ni Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman, Sen. Erwin Tulfo na nakatakda ang pagdinig ng komite sa June 8,” the report said.
Reactions to the various posts ranged from outright anger and disgust at the majority bloc and on the extreme side– a rebuke of Remulla, who when pitted with Padilla was “lahat hangin walang binatbat.”
Another reaction said: “Ang feeling ni Robin kasama sa pagiging Muslim ang magtapang-tapangan. Pumunta ka sa Iran, Lebanon o Gaza. Mas kailangan ka ng mga Muslim doon.”
The Pia Cayetano-chaired Blue Ribbon hearing with the 18 alleged ex-Marines pushed through despite Senate President Pro Tempore Win Gatchalian’s announcement that there’s no session today.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and Sen. Rodante Marcoleta (who along with former Congressman Mike Defensor) first introduced the alleged Marines to the Senate BRC led by then Sen. Ping Lacson, to pin down former Speaker Martin Romualdez and President Marcos’ involvement in the kickbacks from flood control projects through money-filled maletas in Forbes Park.
They framed the questions in a way that the respondent would only answer affirmatively all the “questions” they raised that directly pinned Romualdez and the President in the scandal citing even the online testimonies (never under oath) of former partylist Rep. Zaldy Co (now a fugitive hiding in Europe).
The duo– Marcoleta and SP Cayetano– even cited the wrongful arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte and his continued detention in the Hague– when the Philippines was no longer a member of the International Criminal Court.
The BRC hearing of the Cayetano bloc was obviously intended to paint a very bad and unfair treatment of the president and the political persecution being done, through the impeachment process and coming trial of Sara Duterte scheduled for next month yet by the present administration.
At the rate the hearing proceeded, the expected result that the Cayetano bloc is creating is to sow anger and rage for the Gatchalian bloc and the president, which is creating a great divide in our country.
The BRC led by Sen. Erwin Tulfo announced yesterday that the committee will resume hearings on the flood control mess on Monday.