MANILA, Philippines – The alleged former security aides of ex-congressman Zaldy Co rehashed their corruption allegations on Tuesday, June 16, before an audience that included vloggers and supporters, while also dragging new personalities into the controversy.

The gathering was initially billed as a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing, but no senators showed up, and the event ultimately unfolded as a media briefing. It was staged in Doublegem EDSA Garden Events Palace along EDSA, not in the Senate, where hearings are typically held.

Former congressman Mike Defensor insisted the event had been scheduled as a blue ribbon committee hearing but said it failed to push through because of a “misunderstanding” among their allies in the Senate.

“Nagkaroon ng kaunting siguro kaunting ‘di pagkakaintindihan sa ating mga kasama sa Senado. Pero ito talaga ay patawag ng Senate blue ribbon committee,” Defensor said. (Perhaps there was a slight misunderstanding among our colleagues in the Senate. But this is really a call for a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing.)

However, Senator Erwin Tulfo, the recognized chairperson of the Senate blue ribbon committee, said the hearing announced by Defensor was unauthorized.

Rappler also sought comment from the office of Alan Peter Cayetano, who continues to claim he remains Senate president, on whether the supposed hearing had been sanctioned by his bloc. His office did not respond.

Defensor said that senators Imee Marcos and Robin Padilla had visited the venue before the program, which had by then morphed into a press briefing.

Seated at the center of the room, Defensor assumed the role of moderator, questioning the alleged former security aides one by one in a setup that resembled a committee hearing. 

They were seated in gold-painted chairs typically used in events under a huge chandelier with hanging faux leaves. Some ladies surrounded them, holding the Philippine flag.

Mainstream media were also outnumbered by vloggers and supporters of former president Rodrigo Duterte. The vloggers — some sitting on the floor — livestreamed the event. They were wearing green shirts, with Duterte’s name and face.

They made loud cheers whenever they liked the accusations made by the alleged security aides.

Outside, there was a viewing party using a makeshift screen from a truck. People were seated on the ground under a mango tree.

New accusations

Some of Co’s alleged former security aides also tagged some new personalities in the alleged corruption. 

They claimed that senators Chiz Escudero and Kiko Pangilinan, and Commission on Elections Chairperson George Erwin Garcia received kickbacks from Co. There were loud cheers from the vloggers when their names were mentioned.

During the presser, a photo of Pangilinan, with his wife Sharon Cuneta, and their two children in a hangar was flashed on a wide LED screen. The context of the photo, however, was not discussed. 

Pangilinan denied that he received kickbacks, saying it was “all insinuations,” “allegations,” and “show.”

“They just want to stain my reported appointment as chairperson of the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee that will investigate the flood-control scam,” Pangilinan said. 

Pangilinan said the alleged ex-security aides would be held accountable for the slander they committed.

Garcia also belied the allegations against him. He also cited the inconsistencies in the testimonies against him. 

Garcia pointed out that the alleged former security aides had previously claimed he received four pieces of luggage, but in their latest statement, they said he was given only a small bag allegedly filled with cash.

“’Yan ang mahirap kapag may nagdidikta kung ano ang sasabihin nila at hindi yung kung ano ang totoo,” Garcia said. (That’s the difficult part when someone is telling them what to say rather than allowing them to speak the truth.)

Members of the press asked Escudero for comment, but he has yet to provide a reply as of writing. This story will be updated once he provides a response.

The accusation against Escudero comes after his surprise appearance in the Senate, which triggered a leadership shake-up that ousted his ally Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate president.

Reviving old claims

The ex-security aides also rehashed their accusations against the Marcos family. They claimed that kickbacks were delivered to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s residence in Ilocos Norte, which was allegedly received by Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Sandro Marcos.

They also reiterated the allegation that money was also delivered to some of the houses of the President’s cousin, former House speaker Martin Romualdez.

Senators Erwin Tulfo, Mark Villar, Tito Sotto, Mamayang Liberal Representative Leila de Lima, and former senator Antonio Trillanes were accused again of receiving kickbacks.

The security aides also repeated their claim that money was also given to International Criminal Court personnel, who are looking into the alleged crimes against humanity case of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

The claims of the group, however, were tested in the previous blue ribbon committee hearing after Senator Raffy Tulfo pointed out the inconsistencies and flaws in their statements.

The alleged former security aides are also facing separate complaints from Senator Erwin Tulfo and Trillanes. – Rappler.com