MANILA — Several House leaders and lawmakers accused the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee of using its ongoing flood control investigation to target legislators backing the immediate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte instead of pursuing accountability and legislative reforms.

The statements came after senators allied with former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano proceeded with a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing despite questions surrounding Cayetano’s removal from the post on Wednesday and the subsequent reorganization of the committee under Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian.

In a statement, Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union claimed the investigation was aimed at weakening the House of Representatives and those involved in the impeachment proceedings against Duterte.

According to Ortega, recent committee actions have followed a pattern of linking House members who supported the impeachment complaint to corruption allegations without first presenting sufficient 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 noted.

“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 said the House would continue to carry out its constitutional mandate despite the allegations raised during the Senate proceedings.

“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.

In a separate statement, House prosecutor and Public Accounts Committee chair Terry Ridon denied allegations made against him during the hearing and said the impeachment process would proceed.

“Kasinungalingan ang testimonya ni Jowly Cadiao. Walang maleta na idineliver sa akin sa kahit anumang panahon o sa kahit saan mang lugar (Cadiao’s testimony is a lie. There is no luggage delivered to me on any occasion or in any place),” Ridon stressed.

“Tandaan: tuloy ang impeachment trial. Walang kasinungalingan o gawa-gawang testimonya ang makapipigil sa House prosecution panel na magtuloy sa paglalahad ng katotohanan sa paglilitis ng Pangalawang Pangulo (Remember: the impeachment trial will continue. No lie or fabricated testimony can prevent the House prosecution panel in continuing to present the truth in the trial of the Vice President),” he added.

House trial spokesperson and Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong also denied accusations raised by 18 former Marines during the Senate hearing, describing them as an effort to divert attention from the impeachment proceedings.

“I categorically deny all their accusations against me. Wala akong tinanggap na maleta, pera, o anumang bagay mula kaninuman, at wala rin akong pinulot kahit saan (I did not receive any luggage, money or anything from anybody, nor have I picked anything up anywhere),” Adiong said.

Adiong described the Senate appearance of the former Marines as a political performance intended to create controversy, discredit critics and distract from the impeachment case. He also questioned why certain names were included in the allegations, suggesting political considerations may have influenced the proceedings.

“Hindi tayo nagpapasindak. Hindi ako natatakot sa mga sinungaling (We will not be intimidated. I am not afraid of liars),” he said.

Meanwhile, members of the Makabayan bloc criticized the Senate hearing, alleging that it had become a venue for political attacks and unsupported accusations against progressive leaders and former party-list representatives.

Representatives Sarah Elago, Antonio Tinio and Renee Co expressed concern over hearings being conducted amid the ongoing dispute over Senate leadership.

“Sa gitna ng nagpapatuloy na sigalot sa liderato ng Senado, nakababahala na may mga pagdinig na itinutulak sa ilalim ng kaduda-dudang awtoridad at pagkatapos ay ginagamit upang magpakalat ng mga alegasyong walang sapat na ebidensya. Kahiya-hiya sa mamamayan ang isang hearing na batbat ng tsismis, haka-haka, at pampulitikang agenda (Amid the continuing leadership dispute in the Senate, it is alarming that there are hearings being pushed under a questionable authority to spread unsubstantiated allegations. It is shameful to the public for a hearing covered with rumors, speculations and political agenda),” they said.

The group said the developments reflected what it described as politically motivated actions rather than a legitimate inquiry.

“Ito ang pinakamalinaw na patunay na maruming pamumulitika ang nagaganap. Weather-weather ang kanilang mga akusasyon. Hindi ito seryosong imbestigasyon kundi isang demolition job na nakabalot sa anyo ng Senate hearing (This is the clearest proof that what is happening is dirty politics. The accusations depend on the timing. It is not a serious investigation but a demolition job disguised as a Senate hearing),” the group said.

The Makabayan bloc also rejected attempts to connect it to the alleged flood control anomalies, maintaining that it has no flood control projects or infrastructure allocations.

“The Makabayan bloc will not be intimidated by fabricated allegations, political harassment, or smear campaigns. Patuloy naming igigiit ang katotohanan at pananagutan habang naninindigan kasama ng mamamayan laban sa korapsyon at pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan (We will continue to assert truth and accountability as we stand with the people in fighting corruption and abuse of power),” the group said.