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Metro Manila, Philippines — Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian stood by the postponement of the blue ribbon committee hearing even as Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and his allies pushed ahead with their own meeting with witnesses in the flood control controversy. Gatchalian said there was no official blue ribbon hearing on Thursday, June 4, after new committee chairman Erwin Tulfo moved the inquiry to Monday, June 8. “Walang hearing ngayon. There’s no hearing today,” Gatchalian told reporters on Thursday, June 4. He said resource persons would not be allowed entry into the Senate for a hearing that had not been officially convened. “Since walang hearing, walang resource persons,” Gatchalian said. [Translation: Since there is no hearing, there are no resource persons.] “Yung resource persons hindi pwedeng makapasok dahil walang hearing,” he said. [Translation: The resource persons cannot enter because there is no hearing.] Despite this, Cayetano insisted the witnesses should…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian urged lawmakers to move past the leadership dispute and refocus on pending legislation and pressing national issues, a day after senators elected a new Senate leadership following a dramatic session at the chamber. “Ang gusto natin eh makabalik na tayo sa trabaho,” Gatchalian told reporters in a press briefing on Thursday, June 4.  [Translation: What we want is to get back to work.] Gatchalian said several measures remain pending, including anti-hospital detention bills and the confirmation of five military generals. “Talagang maraming nabinbin na mga batas tulad ng mga anti-hospital detention laws, yung confirmation ng limang generals at iba pang mga batas,” he said.  [Translation: Many measures remain pending, including anti-hospital detention laws, the confirmation of five generals, and other legislation.] He also cited inflation and global developments including the Middle East crisis as issues requiring immediate attention from lawmakers. The…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Acting Senate President Win Gatchalian on Thursday, June 4, said he would preside over Vice President Sara Duterte’s looming impeachment trial.  “Well under the rules, since ang Senate president pro tempore is the acting Senate president, tayo ang mag preside ng impeachment,” Gatchalian said in a briefing. The lawmaker said senator-judges would also have to retake their oath after the leadership shuffle. This time, he would be the new presiding officer of the impeachment court. “I would have to consult with the clerk of court kung ano ang mga procedures. But definitely pagbukas, kailangan mag-take ng oath,” he said. Meanwhile, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said he – and not Gatchalian – will preside over the trial since he is the legitimate Senate president.  “I am the Senate president and if you look at the Constitution, it is the Senate president (who will preside),” he said. The…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman has filed graft and malversation charges with a local court contractor against contractor-couple Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II and several others over an alleged anomalous flood control project in Calumpit, Bulacan. The issue involved a river rehabilitation project of St. Timothy Construction Corporation, owned by the Dicayas, according to a case briefer released on Thursday, June 4, from the Malolos Regional Trial Court. The alleged irregularities gave unwarranted benefits of nearly ₱54 million to St. Timothy, which transacted with the DPWH-Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office. Investigators said payments were released without supporting documents and basis for the disbursements, including payments for dredging and embankment works. “The subject cases stemmed from the utter and flagrant disregard to government auditing and accounting rules and regulations, particularly the release of payments despite the lack of any legitimate basis to support…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Former Rep. Mike Defensor allegedly paid ₱5 million to each of the 18 ex-marines involved in the flood control scandal to testify about the scheme, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag said in a press conference on Thursday, June 4.  Matibag said the agency reopened its investigation on the former soldiers and the flood control scandal after it secured testimony from a person who exposed Defensor’s alleged involvement. The group of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano has banked on the testimony of the former marines in a hearing on the flood control scandal, an event that was not recognized by the new Senate majority. READ: Amid Senate leadership dispute, flood control probe proceeds with 18 ex-marine witnesses “Mayroong isang indibidwal na nagbigay ng statement nung April 28 tsaka May 6 na meron siyang alegasyon na yung isa doon sa 18 marines, may relasyon sila, may…