The Senate was urged to take action against Sen. Robin Padilla after his office accommodated 18 alleged former Marines who skipped the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing chaired by Sen. Erwin Tulfo on Monday.
The 18 individuals, who claimed to be “bagmen” of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in relation to the flood control scandal, were invited to appear at the committee hearing on June 8.
They were invited to a consultative meeting but skipped it and instead appeared at Padilla’s office, together with their counsel, lawyer Levito Baligod, where they held a press conference.
Baligod said they did not want to legitimize Tulfo as the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair, hence their actions.
Tulfo was installed as the new chair of the committee after the Senate chairmanships were declared vacant in a reorganization on June 3.
Baligod also said they wanted Tulfo to inhibit from the hearing, claiming the senator was among those accused of allegedly receiving suitcases of cash, as claimed in a June 4 “hearing” led by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and his sister, Sen. Pia Cayetano.
“Pangit naman ‘yung ikaw na yung inireklamo, ikaw pa mag-imbestiga, ikaw pa ang maging huwes,” Baligod said.
The lawyer also said he foresees Tulfo citing them in contempt if he leads the hearing.
“So, wala kaming ibang patutunguhan, kungdi kulong po eh. And that is why the logic of our request, the reason, the basis for our request, is for him to recuse himself, to inhibit and let those who were not named in the affidavit to preside over the investigation,” Baligod said.
“Puwede nila kaming ipadala sa Pasay City Jail,” he added.
Meanwhile, the press conference of Baligod and the alleged ex-Marines at Padilla’s office drew condemnation from some Filipinos who said the senator was disrespecting the Senate as an institution.
“I hope this nudges current Senate leadership to finally take action and discipline Robin Padilla. Otherwise, this won’t be the last time we’ll witness a Senator blatantly disrespecting current leadership,” an online user wrote.
“Hello, senate ethics committee! You should do something about this t*** named Robin Padilla. This is yet another mockery of your institution,” another Pinoy commented, referring to the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, a panel handling the conduct, dignity, and integrity of Senate.
“I find this press conference held by lawyer Baligod and his 18 marine clients UNPRECEDENTED and AN INSULT to the Senate as an institution. First of all, only senators hold press cons inside the Senate. That a mere civilian lawyer with his clients did so with the aid of a senator!” journalist Raissa Robles wrote.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros warned the alleged former Marines that they could be subpoenaed and issued show-cause orders for their absence from the hearing.
Baligod said that Alan Peter did not instruct them to skip the hearing, but that they were only he did not authorize any Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing.
Tulfo suspended the hearing before noon out of respect for the victims of the powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Mindanao.
Baligod said he was disappointed but added that he would attend the next hearing.
He said he had explained to Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III why they were late, claiming that five of the alleged ex-Marines had come from the province to attend a wake.
The alleged former Marines previously appeared at a “hearing” led by the Cayetano bloc, where they claimed to have received an iPhone 16e in 2024 in exchange for their silence about the flood control scandal.
The specific iPhone model, however, was released in 2025.
Sotto also refuted their claims that he received kickbacks from flood control projects, citing discrepancies in their timelines and the death of his staff member.
Apart from these claims, the SVD community also categorically denied allegations against Fr. Flaviano Antonio Villanueva that he received cash through an envelope allegedly delivered near a church on Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City.
The congregation said no church matching the witness’s description exists along Mindanao Avenue, and no SVD parish, church or ministry center is located in that area.
READ: Religious group pursues legal action over Senate hearing allegations | ‘Though shalt not bear false witness’: Cardinal David backs SVD priest
Senate changes
The Senate underwent a reorganization after a quorum was declared following Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s appearance last June 3.
The shuffle led to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian being elected Senate President Pro Tempore.
Malacañang, the House of Representatives, and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines all recognize him as the legitimate presiding officer of the Senate.
