Lawmakers, Priest Deny Kickback Accusations

Senators Vicente Sotto III and Erwin Tulfo as well as several congressmen denied receiving kickbacks from flood control projects, after their names were mentioned during a Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing that their bloc described as bogus on Thursday, June 4.

“Kahit na ano pa ‘yan sinabi (Whatever they say), it’s obviously a bogus investigation in aid of destabilization!” Sotto told reporters on Viber, adding that his aide who supposedly received the payoff died in 2015.

In a phone interview with reporters, Tulfo also denied the allegation, saying he did not have flood control projects as a senator and called the Marines’ story a “blatant lie.”

Former Marines Benny Bulontante and Bernard Gumban claimed they delivered suitcases of cash to Sotto and Tulfo.

Tulfo said he has a copy of the Marines’ affidavit, and found that the Marines had also claimed delivering suitcases of cash to members of the Cayetano bloc – Senators Loren Legarda and Mark and Camille Villar.

The two Villars were not present at the hearing. They were linked to the anomaly at the time they were aligned with the Sotto-led majority.

Tulfo said it was obvious that the Cayetano bloc were linking him and Sotto to the flood control mess because they are from the new majority.

Legarda briefly dropped by the hearing, and in her speech lauded the Marines’ for their bravery in exposing the alleged corruption.

When The Philippine STAR asked her about her inclusion in the Marines’ affidavit and if she found them credible now, Legarda just smiled.

Tulfo said he would consult with lawyers if he should file a libel case against the “ex-Marines,” who are already facing a slew of libel and perjury cases for their sweeping corruption claims.

He maintained that he is the legitimate Blue Ribbon committee chair, as he vowed to call for a Blue Ribbon flood control probe on Monday.

Tulfo said he is unsure if the former Marines, whom he accused of using Thursday’s hearing as a venue to “grandstand” and “spread lies,” would be invited.

The Cayetano bloc Blue Ribbon hearing was “rude, (a) disregard of the rules,” Tulfo said.

Aside from the senators, Reps. Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro, Leila de Lima of ML party-list, Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur and Jose Alvarez of Palawan, as well as former Makabayan bloc members France Castro, Arlene Brosas and Raoul Manuel all denied receiving any amount from the flood control projects.

P5 million per ex-Marine?

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has subpoenaed former lawmaker Mike Defensor over allegations that he paid P5 million to 18 former Marines who testified on Thursday during the Senate investigation into alleged anomalies in flood control projects.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the bureau received information from a relative of one of the former Marines who claimed that Defensor financed the testimony of the group before the Senate Blue Ribbon committee.

Matibag said the information was relayed by the partner of a child of one of the former Marines.

Defensor was directed to appear before the NBI on June 10 to answer the allegations, which he denied as he accused the NBI of focusing on gossip instead of corruption.

“The NBI’s resources and authority should be used in pursuit of truth and justice, not rumors,” Defensor said in a statement.

He claimed that critics of corruption in government were being targeted more aggressively than individuals allegedly involved in graft.

“The priority should be going after those who stole from the public coffers, not harassing those seeking truth and accountability,” Defensor said.

Cayetano challenged the NBI chief to personally appear before the Senate Blue Ribbon committee and present evidence supporting his allegations, as he stressed that Matibag should not publicly discuss unverified information.

In response, Matibag said he was willing to appear before the “proper” Blue Ribbon committee once served a formal subpoena.

“My name is not Marites. It is Melvin Matibag,” he said, dismissing suggestions that he was spreading rumors.

‘Plain lunacy’

Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, who was among those mentioned to have received a luggage filled with money in connec tion with the flood control anomalies, denied the allegations. “Plain lunacy. Absurd,” he said. – With EJ Macababbad, Evelyn Macairan, Daphne Galvez, Artemio Dumlao, Neil Jayson Servallos