Blue Ribbon Proceeds With June 4 Flood Control Hearing Despite Invitation Chaos; Ombudsman Charges 'Big Fish' in Bulacan

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee's ninth hearing on the flood control corruption scandal proceeded on Thursday, June 4, after a last-minute reversal on invitations to 18 former military personnel who allege they personally hand-delivered billions of pesos in kickbacks to senior administration officials — while the Office of the Ombudsman separately filed criminal charges on the same day against what DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon called "big fish" in the Bulacan flood control case. **The 18 Ex-Marines: Who They Are and What They Claim** The 18 former enlisted Marine personnel — represented by lawyer Levito Baligod — allege that they were hired as bagmen by fugitive former Ako Bicol representative Zaldy Co and that they transported cash-filled suitcases and packages to current and former government officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and members of his family, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and other administration figures. The group, which includes Belnard Tube, Rosebert Waupan, Benny Bulontate, Johnny Buduan, Rodante Orbillo, Reyneboy Julian, Christopher Esquivel, George Villalon Jr., Romeo Rommel Bobares, Gil Navidad Jr., Anselmo Taberdo, Joely Cadiao, Rommel Galapon, Cecilio Larroder Jr., Bernard Gumban, Crisanie Dado, Fidel Corpuz, and Walter Manalansan, claims the total sum transported amounted to approximately ₱805 billion. Former Marine Orly Guteza first raised these allegations at earlier Blue Ribbon hearings chaired by Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson. Senator Lacson himself later cast doubt on the claims, telling reporters that physically transporting ₱805 billion in cash would require an estimated 13,416 large suitcases — a logistical challenge he said strains credibility. The allegations remain unverified; Malacañang and Romualdez have not publicly responded to the specific suitcase allegations as of press time. **Invitations Briefly Pulled, Then Restored** The hearing's path was not smooth. On June 2, lawyer Baligod posted on Facebook a screenshot of an email purportedly from the Blue Ribbon Committee stating that "the invitations are hereby withdrawn… upon the directive of the (Blue Ribbon committee) chairperson Sen. Pia Cayetano." Baligod wrote that "the Senate is undergoing immolation, courtesy of the minority bloc which is enabled by the executive and the HOR." Three hours later, he posted that the hearing would proceed after all, saying senators in the majority were concerned about potential harassment from the administration and had sought reassurance before agreeing to continue. The Blue Ribbon Committee subsequently confirmed in a June 1 letter — posted by Baligod — that the 18 ex-Marines were formally invited. The hearing proceeded as scheduled on June 4, according to the Philippine Star, which reported on the restored invitations on June 3. **Bulacan 'Big Fish' Charged by Ombudsman** Separately, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon announced on June 3 that the Office of the Ombudsman was filing criminal charges on June 4 before the Malolos Regional Trial Court against a group of Bulacan personalities — and at least one senior figure Dizon described only as "malaking isda" (big fish). When pressed to name the respondents, Dizon deferred, saying, "Intayin niyo nalang kung sino" (Just wait to see who). As of the time of publication, the identities of those charged had not been publicly confirmed by the Ombudsman's office. The Bulacan charges are distinct from the Sandiganbayan plunder case already filed against Senator Jinggoy Estrada and former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan. Bulacan has been described by the Ombudsman in earlier statements as the "epicenter of ghost flood control projects," with local officials and contractors allegedly coordinating with national figures to certify non-existent infrastructure work. **Who Controls the Hearing?** The June 4 hearing also proceeded amid the Senate leadership crisis, with both Senator Erwin Tulfo (Gatchalian bloc) and Senator Pia Cayetano (Cayetano bloc) claiming the Blue Ribbon chairmanship. Senator Rodante Marcoleta, who faces pending charges in the flood control probe, was expected to head questioning from a Blue Ribbon subcommittee, subject to Pia Cayetano's delegation — itself disputed given the leadership standoff. **Context** The flood control corruption scandal involves allegations that billions of pesos in DPWH-administered flood control projects were diverted through rigged bidding, ghost deliverables, and kickback schemes, with the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee's probe expanding to implicate lawmakers, local officials, and contractors. The Ombudsman filed plunder charges against Senator Jinggoy Estrada on May 28 for allegedly receiving ₱573 million in kickbacks, and he surrendered to authorities on June 1. The cases are now at various stages before the Sandiganbayan and regional trial courts. --- **Sources** - Philippine Star, Marc Jayson Cayabyab and Ghio Ong, "Blue Ribbon invitation to 18 ex-Marines revoked, restored," June 3, 2026: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2026/06/03/2532444/blue-ribbon-invitation-18-ex-marines-revoked-restored - Philippine Star, "'Big fish' in Bulacan flood control case to be charged on June 4 — Dizon," June 3, 2026: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2026/06/03/2532555/big-fish-bulacan-flood-control-case-be-charged-june-4-dizon - GMA News, "Ombudsman to file raps vs Bulacan personalities, 'big fish' over flood control mess — DPWH," June 3, 2026: https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/990013/ombudsman-to-file-raps-vs-bulacan-personalities-big-fish-over-flood-control-mess-dpwh/story/ - Philippine Daily Inquirer, "Ombudsman Remulla gets Senate flood report," https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2227662/ombudsman-remulla-gets-senate-flood-report - The Tribune, "Senate Resumes Flood Control Probe: Blue Ribbon Committee Probes Alleged Corruption in Public Works Projects," June 1, 2026: https://tribune.net.ph/2026/06/01/untitled-jun-01-2026-0408-pm - Rappler, "Flood control corruption: Senate blue ribbon panel's partial findings, recommendations," https://www.rappler.com/philippines/flood-control-corruption-senate-blue-ribbon-panel-partial-findings-recommendations/