SOON enough, criminal charges will be filed against Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva, former senator Bong Revilla and three congressmen over the so-called flood control corruption scandal.
Citing information from her own sources, Sen. Imee Marcos tagged CWS partylist Rep. Edwin Gardiola, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap and ACT-CIS partylist Rep. Edvic Yap among those who’ll be charged come January 15.
However, Imee finds it rather strange that her cousin — former House Speaker Martin Romualdez is not on the list of legislators who will be made accountable for the biggest fund scandal ever to rock the government.
“It makes me sad that only senators are being targeted even if it’s Bonjing and the speaker’s office that were the sources of corruption in flood control,” a sarcastic Imee said in reference to Romualdez.
IMEE’S PREDICTION
Sometime in November last year, the senator hinted at the possibility of Senate witness Orly Guteza recanting his testimony linking Romualdez and former Ako Bicol partylist congressman Zaldy Co to the flood control controversy.
Imee likewise claimed that there was, so far, no direct evidence linking Senators Francis Escudero and Mark Villar, and former senators Nancy Binay and Grace Poe, to so-called “ghost” or substandard flood control projects.
Escudero, Villar, Binay and Poe denied involvement in the flood control scandal which triggered large-scale protests calling for accountability among government officials.
PROTECTING MARTIN
She also claimed that her peers at the Senate Blue Ribbon committee members were being prevented from linking certain administration personalities from a fund mess that saw limited government funds wasted in view of kickbacks via ghost projects.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson however denied Imee’s sweeping allegations.
“That’s impossible. Nobody’s preventing anyone from doing anything. Sen Lacson might get mad at such an accusation. Imbento,” Sotto said.
“Out of respect for all the senators of the 20th Congress and the hardworking staff of the Blue Ribbon committee, I choose not to dignify Sen Marcos’ unfair, untruthful and baseless accusations,” Lacson, for his part, said.
TOKEN INVESTIGATION
In an earlier zoom press briefing, Imee wished that Senator Rodante Marcoleta be reinstalled as chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee.
According to the presidential sister, such a move would allow the August Chamber to regain public trust, citing survey results which saw the Senate numbers plunging to a record-low.
Imee also took a swipe at the Department of Justice’s selective policy in its investigation, which according to the senator has been limited to senators both former and current.