Sen. Imee Marcos Speaks on Upcoming Resumption of Senate Flood Control Hearing
IMEE MARCOS – The presidential sister and Senator claimed that the flood control witnesses will allegedly recant their testimonies.
The Senate is set to resume its flood control hearing on Friday, November 14. Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson was re-elected as the chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee which led the flood control investigation of the upper chamber.
Five (5) senators were previously offered of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairmanship but things led to the return of Lacson to the position. According to Senate Pres. Tito Sotto, the Senate President Pro Tempore might have heard the clamor of their colleagues for him to return to the position.
Previously, Sen. Ping Lacson claimed that he will invite Zaldy Co to attend the flood control hearing via Zoom. According to him, he has no direct communication with the resigned Ako Bicol Partylist Representative but the invitation will be sent to his address.
Aside from Co, 17 congressmen including presidential cousin and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez will reportedly be invited to the Senate flood control hearing. However, the former House Speaker allegedly changed his mind from attending the probe according to his cousin, Sen. Imee Marcos.
Furthermore, based on a report on GMA News, Sen. Imee Marcos also claimed that the witnesses of the flood control issue will allegedly recant their testimonies. They were supposedly pressured and their families were threatened.
“Ang mangyayari ngayon, magre-recant ang mga testigo. Panoorin niyo, sigurado ako diyan. Isa-isa ‘yan na biglang babaliktad dahil pinressure, tinakot ang pamilya, at halos tinutukan ang asawa at anak,” she said.
The members of the media pressed on Sen. Imee Marcos if she’s referring to Orly Guteza, the surprise witness presented by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta who claimed that he was allegedly part of the team that supposedly delivered suitcases filled with money to the residences of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Zaldy Co. He was a former aide of Co.
“Basta ‘yun na ‘yun. Abangan na lang ang susunod na kabanata. Kasi pinakamabigat ang kanyang testimonya. Dahil du’n, may personal knowledge at matapang na ibinunyag ang lahat. Talaga naman, tinakot nang todo-todo ang mga pobreng testigo. Hindi tama itong gawain nila,” the Senator claimed.
Based on the report, Sen. Imee Marcos also claimed that some witnesses who allegedly want to speak out regarding the flood control anomalies were allegedly silenced. She did not name who she was referring to on both sides. Sen. Imee Marcos also claimed that former House Speaker Martin Romualdez allegedly backed off from being a state witness.