Marcoleta, Imee Marcos hint at Senate cover-up

Opposition senators Rodante Marcoleta and Imee Marcos on Tuesday slammed the investigation of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee into the alleged corruption in flood control projects, calling it “stagnant” and hinting at a potential cover-up to protect high-ranking officials.

Marcoleta and Marcos lamented that the panel did not delve into and prioritize matters of utmost importance, specifically to pinpointing the real culprits behind the schemes.

Instead, they argued that the committee has spent its time and resources unfairly grilling DPWH officials, staff, and contractors — the “small fish.”

“It’s a little bit disappointing on my part because I’m expecting more,” Marcoleta said in a briefing.

“I don’t want to say anything that will hurt or offend my colleagues, but that’s what many Filipinos see — like it’s going nowhere,” Marcos chimed in.

She also called into question committee chair Panfilo Lacson’s remark that there was still insufficient evidence to implicate former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in the alleged anomalies in the flood control projects.

Marcos asserted that Lacson’s utterances cast doubt on the credibility of the panel, arguing that it is still premature to make such an assumption, given that the investigation is still ongoing.

Marcoleta expressed disappointment over how the investigation has turned out under the stewardship of his successor, Lacson.

He said he had high expectations for the eighth hearing last Monday, citing the developments over the past two months since the committee’s last meeting in November.

Specifically, Marcoleta was dismayed over Lacson’s alleged lack of effort to get the full testimonies of the two witnesses who testified under the pseudonyms Joy and Maria regarding Romualdez’s alleged ownership of the property at 30 Tamarind Road, South Forbes Park.

He said he also expected that the panel would scrutinize the allegations of kickback deliveries involving former undersecretaries Adrian Bersamin and Trygve Olaivar who were both present at the hearing.

At Monday’s Senate probe, the witnesses pointed to contractor Curlee Discaya as the one who told them that Romualdez had “acquired” the property that was being rented by their boss, Ricco Ocampo, at the time.

The house in question was the same property that former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co claimed was purchased as a “drop-off and storage house for money from SOPs,” or kickbacks from the government, allegedly intended for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Romualdez.

The President and the former speaker both downplayed the allegations.

According to Marcoleta, Lacson missed an opportunity to summon the new owner and review the lease contract.

“After Martin Romualdez’s name was mentioned, we were done,” Marcoleta said.

Marcos agreed, suggesting that the panel deliberately leaves key issues unresolved, particularly those pointing to Romualdez.

“When a finger points to the moon, we have to look at the moon, not the finger,” Marcos said.

“In other words, [these are] critical leads in the investigation that need to be pursued. That’s why it always feels incomplete. There’s always something missing, always left hanging. Whether on purpose or just forgotten, it just stops,” she added in Filipino.

Lost momentum

Marcoleta said the Senate probe lost its momentum after Lacson replaced him as chairman.

During Marcoleta’s tenure, Discaya implicated 19 House lawmakers, including Romualdez and Co, in an alleged kickback scheme tied to flood control projects run through construction firms he and his wife, Sarah, managed.

Sarah is currently detained on charges of graft and malversation involving P96.5 million in “ghost” flood control project in Davao Occidental.

It was also under Marcoleta that the Blue Ribbon Committee presented the so-called whistleblower, Orly Guteza, Co’s alleged ex-aide, who claimed to have delivered 46 suitcases stuffed with “basura” or a code for cash to Co’s and Romualdez’s residences in Valle Verde 6, Pasig, and McKinley Road, Makati, respectively.

Guteza, who was presented as a surprise witness by Marcoleta, attended the hearing only once and has not resurfaced.

Doubts were raised, however, about Guteza’s credibility after the lawyer who notarized his affidavit denied doing so.

Romualdez also earlier slammed Guteza’s testimony, saying it was obviously staged and that Marcoleta likely coached him.

These so-called lapses in the Senate investigation into anomalies in flood control projects prompted minority senators to produce a “minority report,” which contained their observations and recommendations regarding the issue.