ILOILO City – Iloilo 1st District’s Cong. Janette Garin and former Kabataan party-list congressman Raoul Manuel have dismissed allegations that they received cash-filled bags, claiming the accusations are part of a politically motivated effort to protect the Dutertes as the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio in the Senate draws near.
The allegations were made by 18 individuals who also claimed to be former Philippine Marines during a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on June 4. Garin and Manuel were among four personalities from Iloilo they linked to purported cash deliveries supposedly made by former congressman Zaldy Co. They also named Iloilo City’s Cong. Julienne Baronda and Uswag Ilonggo party-list’s Cong. James “Jojo” Ang.
In a statement released to Panay News, Garin categorically denied the allegation.
“Hindi ko kilala, nakausap, o natatandaang nakita ang sinasabing 18 Marines. Kung may ebidensya sila, ilabas nila sa tamang forum. Kung wala, baka mas bagay silang tawaging ‘18 Maritess’ kaysa 18 Marines,” Garin said.
According to Garin, no amount of political attacks can divert attention from the real issues.
“No amount of political theater, character assassination, recycled propaganda, or scripted drama can drown out the real issues,” she said.
The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to impeach Duterte-Carpio.
“Kapag mahina ang depensa sa ebidensya, paninira ang nagiging estratehiya. Our people deserve better,” said Garin.
Garin also lamented what she described as the use of the Senate to advance political agendas.
The Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on June 4 were led identified Duterte supporters Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, Sen. Alan Peter Cyetano and sister Sen. Pia Cayetano.
“It is deeply unfortunate that a respectable and dignified institution such as the Senate of the Philippines has been used by some of its own members to advance their political agenda, weaponizing a supposed ‘committee hearing’ to propagate narrative-driven accusations against some members of the House of Representatives,” said Garin.
Garin further maintained that allegations linking her to alleged cash deliveries were entirely false.
“While I refuse to be dragged into this orchestrated political theater, I owe it to the public to set the record straight: these allegations are entirely baseless and thus, merit no serious consideration,” Garin said.
Calling on Filipinos to be discerning, Garin said: “Maging mapanuri po tayong lahat. In this season of gross propaganda and public deception, we must refuse to allow manufactured noise to drown out the facts. My commitment to our constitutional duties remains steadfast and I stand firm in the belief that the Filipino people deserve a public discourse anchored on verifiable facts and evidence, and not malicious fiction manifestly designed to serve a purely political agenda rather than the interest of truth.”
Meanwhile, Manuel joined former ACT Teachers party-list congresswoman France Castro and former Gabriela Women’s Party congresswoman Arlene Brosas in issuing a joint statement condemning the allegations as part of what they described as a campaign to protect the Duterte family.
“The former Makabayan bloc representatives and current leaders of the people’s movement, vehemently denounce the malicious and baseless claim of the so-called ’18 Marines’ as a desperate act of political demolition,” part of their joint statement read.
The Makabayan bloc former House representatives were consistent critics of the Dutertes.
The group said the attacks on lawmakers and activists involved in the impeachment effort were intended to destroy the credibility of those seeking accountability from the Duterte family.
“Mariin at lubusan naming pinabubulaanan ang mga paratang na ito. Ang buong kwento — na kami raw ay madalas nakikipagkita kay Zaldy Co at umaalis na may dalang mga paper bag — ay isang nakakahiyang kasinungalingan. Walang katotohanan at walang batayan ang ganitong mga akusasyon. All they have are conjectures, vague insinuations and outright lies, because they have no evidence of any wrongdoing by Makabayan,” the statement added.
The Makabayan leaders also rejected any suggestion that they could have benefited from flood control projects.
“Let it be known that Makabayan cannot be involved in the flood control scam because we have no infrastructure projects nominated by our offices. Wala kaming projects, allocables or infrastructure insertions sa pangalan namin. Wala kaming matatanggap na anumang kickback dahil wala naman kaming proyekto,” the group said.
The group noted that the allegations surfaced as the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio approaches and while the case against former President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court remains ongoing.
“This is a classic, desperate diversion. Kapag naipit na sa sariling mga krimen at katiwalian, ang tugon ng mga Duterte at ng kanilang mga alyado ay ang gumawa ng mga kwento at atakehin ang mga nagrereklamo,” the group added./PN
