Metro Manila, Philippines – A counsel for former marines set to testify on lawmakers linked to the flood control scandal said on Tuesday, June 2, that the Senate blue ribbon committee withdrew its invitation to his clients.
Levi Baligod said he received the invite for the ninth committee hearing on Monday, June 1, but was revoked on the same day.
The 18 marines said in an affidavit that they delivered ₱805 billion in cash in suitcases as kickbacks to government officials.
Baligod’s post includes an image of the email notifying him of the withdrawal which read that it was a directive of Sen. Pia Cayetano, committee chairperson.
“The Senate is undergoing immolation, courtesy of the minority bloc which is enabled by the executive and the HOR (House of Representatives),” Baligod wrote in a Facebook post on June 2.
“Si [Jinggoy] Estrada kahapon, si [Joel] Villanueva, [Chiz] Escudero at Marcoleta ang isusunod.”
[Translation: Yesterday, it was Estrada, next it will be Villanueva, Escudero, and Marcoleta.]
Baligod was referring to Estrada’s arrest on Monday. The Sandiganbayan issued a warrant for the senator over plunder and graft charges for the alleged misuse of ₱573 million in flood control funds.
READ: Estrada back in detention for third plunder case in over two decades
Newswatch Plus cannot independently verify the information as of yet, and has sought confirmation from Cayetano about the withdrawal of the invitation.
