Senate Deputy Minority Leader Rodante Marcoleta has expressed frustration over Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson’s request to obtain CCTV footage showing retired Marine TSgt. Orly Guteza visiting Marcoleta’s office before he appeared as a surprise witness in a Blue Ribbon Committee hearing last September 25.
In a television interview, Marcoleta said Lacson’s move was inappropriate and went beyond a senator’s duties.
“Must a chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, tingnan pa niya sa CCTV kung sino ang pumupunta sa mga opisina namin?” he said.
He added, “Can I also do the same to him? Like, I want to see, on a daily basis, who are the people coming to his office? Baka hindi rin niya mabutihin.”
Marcoleta admitted feeling offended by Lacson’s action, calling it unnecessary and disrespectful.
“I took offense because I don’t think this is the job of a senator… Hindi ba siya magkasya na pumunta na lang yung tao? Why would he look into the CCTV?” he said.
Guteza earlier claimed that former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co received bags of cash allegedly from kickbacks tied to questionable flood control projects. However, he has since gone missing after reports surfaced that his notarized affidavit was falsified.
Marcoleta and Lacson have long been at odds, with the former often questioning Lacson’s leadership style in the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.