Sen. Rodante Marcoleta Speaks on Blue Ribbon Committee, Claims of Alleged 18 Former Marines
RODANTE MARCOLETA – The minority Senator questioned why Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson allegedly did not investigate the claims of the alleged former marines.
Recently, alleged 18 former marines who supposedly worked for former House Budget Appropriations Committee chairman Zaldy Co claimed that they allegedly delivered cash to several people including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The were unnamed but their claims were represented by a lawyer.
The alleged 18 former marines also claimed that Ombudsman Boying Remulla met with the personnel of the ICC (International Criminal Court) which the country’s chief graft-buster admitted. According to Remulla, it was for the protection of the witnesses in the case against former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
The claims of the 18 alleged former marines gathered different reactions. It also sparked doubts and one of those who doubted their testimonies was Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson.
Recently, Sen. Rodante Marcoleta slammed Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson for allegedly ignoring the testimonies of men who claimed to be former Marines. According to them, they allegedly once carried suitcases of cash from former House member Zaldy Co to powerful officials, even claiming that some of the money supposedly reached the residence of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Ilocos Norte.
“Sila po ay nagpahayag ng kanilang mga nalalaman tungkol dito sa malupit na pandarambong sa kaban ng bayan […] Bukod pa rito, isa sa mga nagsalitang ex-Marines ang tumestigong isinama siya ni Zaldy Co nang maghatid daw ng limang malalaking maleta sa bahay ng Pangulo sa Ilocos Norte,” Marcoleta said.
Based on the report, in his speech, Sen. Rodante Marcoleta asked why Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson who leads the Blue Ribbon Committee never opened an investigation into such serious claims. He argued that the Senate’s role is to dig into corruption wherever it appears. According to him, the brushing aside of the issue allegedly undermines public trust. Marcoleta further claimed that the silence of Lacson’s committee is allegedly not just negligence but also a deliberate choice to avoid accountability.
“Pero ano po ang ginawa ng Chairman ng BRC? Sa halip na iharap sa taong bayan at diretsahang tanungin sa kanilang mga pahayag, kaagad na pinag-alinlanganan ang kanilang kredibilidad. Bago pa man masuri ang kanilang mga salaysay sa harap ng Senado, tila ay nabuo na ang konklusyon sa mismong Chairman na dapat sana ay magsiyasat nito,” the Senator added.
Previously, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson said that the witnesses of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta allegedly needs to be vetted before the hearings could proceed. Aside from Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, for her part, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte previously asked about the alleged “silence” of the concern groups on the claims of the 18 “former marines”.
