House leaders and members of the prosecution panel on Thursday accused the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee of being used as a political tool to target lawmakers supporting the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, amid tensions over a flood control investigation and shifting Senate leadership.
Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union said the probe is being used to undermine the House of Representatives and the officials tasked to handle the constitutional impeachment process.
Ortega said the committee’s recent hearings appear to be linking House members involved in the impeachment to corruption allegations without presenting clear evidence.
“Among those singled out and accused are House prosecutors Rep. Gerville Luistro, Rep. Joel Chua, Rep. Leila de Lima, and Rep. Terry Ridon, as well as House impeachment spokesperson Rep. Zia Alonto-Adiong. Other House leaders and members identified with the impeachment proceedings have likewise been dragged into the narrative,” Ortega said.
He warned that attempts to influence public perception ahead of the impeachment trial could undermine constitutional processes.
“Before the impeachment court can even convene, before a single witness can testify, and before a single piece of evidence can be formally presented, an effort is already underway to poison public perception against the House and the officials who will participate in the impeachment process,” he added.
Ortega stressed that House prosecutors will not be intimidated and that the impeachment process will continue.
“The House of Representatives will not be intimidated. The House prosecutors will not be distracted. And the constitutional process must not be derailed by a campaign designed to influence the outcome of an impeachment trial before it even begins,” he said.
House Committee on Public Accounts chair Rep. Joel Chua Ridon also dismissed allegations raised during the Senate hearing, including claims linking him to the alleged delivery of luggage containing money.
“Kasinungalingan ang testimonya ni Jowly Cadiao. Walang maleta na idineliver sa akin sa kahit anumang panahon o sa kahit saan mang lugar,” Ridon said.
He reaffirmed that the impeachment proceedings will proceed despite what he described as false testimonies and political distractions.
House impeachment spokesperson Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong likewise denied accusations raised by former Marines during the Senate hearing, calling them fabricated and politically motivated.
“I categorically deny all their accusations against me. Wala akong tinanggap na maleta, pera, o anumang bagay mula kaninuman,” Adiong said.
He said the allegations were designed to divert attention from the impeachment process and questioned the selection of individuals being implicated. Adiong added that he would not be intimidated by what he described as baseless accusations.
“Hindi tayo nagpapasindak. Hindi ako natatakot sa mga sinungaling,” he said.
Meanwhile, members of the Makabayan bloc also criticized the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings, saying these were being used for political attacks and unverified claims against progressive lawmakers.
Reps. Sarah Elago, Antonio Tinio, and Renee Co said the hearings were being conducted amid uncertainty in Senate leadership and were being used to advance political narratives rather than establish accountability.
They said the proceedings were based on speculation rather than evidence and described them as politically motivated.
The bloc also rejected any attempt to link them to the flood control controversy, saying they have no involvement in infrastructure projects.
Makabayan lawmakers said they will continue to push for accountability while resisting what they called political harassment and smear campaigns.
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