House spox Zia Alonto Adiong: Canceled ‘Blue Ribbon’ hearing was last-minute bid to divert attention from VP Sara trial

House spox Zia Alonto Adiong: Canceled ‘Blue Ribbon’ hearing was last-minute bid to divert attention from VP Sara trial

HOUSE trial spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Tuesday described a purported Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing involving 18 alleged former bodyguards of ex-congressman Zaldy Co as a last-minute effort to divert public attention from the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.

“To me, this is a last-minute effort, again, to divert the attention of the public,” Alonto Adiong said in an interview with ANC Headstart.

The Senate had already formally convened as an impeachment court and is scheduled to hold a pre-trial conference on June 18 ahead of the start of trial proceedings on July 6.

Alonto Adiong stressed that the Senate’s constitutional priority is now the impeachment trial.

“The constitutional priority should be the impeachment trial because the Senate has already convened as an impeachment court,” he said.

“And therefore, as a matter of constitutional duty, the priority now of the Senate is to hear the Articles of Impeachment.”

The controversy stemmed from a supposed June 16 Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing promoted online by former congressman and former Cabinet official Mike Defensor.

However, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Sen. Erwin Tulfo, said no such hearing had been scheduled or authorized and urged the public to disregard announcements claiming otherwise.

The committee said the announcement was made without its authority and approval and “categorically rejects the misinformation being circulated online.”

The management of Doublegem EDSA Garden Events Place announced that the gathering would no longer proceed as scheduled.

The venue likewise clarified that it had no affiliation with the organizers, participants or subject matter of the event.

Alonto Adiong said the Senate committee’s disavowal of the event reinforced his view that the activity was not an official hearing.

“We take cue from the current leadership in the Senate right now. The chairperson of the Blue Ribbon Committee, Sen. Tulfo, said that this is not a sanctioned committee hearing,” Alonto Adiong said.

“Meaning to say, there’s no committee hearing scheduled today,” he added.

Alonto Adiong said the effort appeared intended to revive allegations previously raised by 18 individuals who claimed lawmakers and other personalities received cash-filled suitcases. He was among those named in the allegations, which he has repeatedly denied.

The lawmaker said the accusations were aimed at undermining the credibility of the House prosecution panel.

“Number one, cast doubts on the integrity of the House prosecution team. Because there are members in the House prosecution teams who are also included in their list, including me,” he said.

Alonto Adiong also accused the organizers of trying to confuse the public and divert attention from the impeachment proceedings.

“Number two, I think this is just a tactic, again, an effort to divert the attention of the public, and also to muddle the water,” Alonto Adiong said. (END)