Marilyn Cahatol

Senators formally convene as an impeachment court to try the complaints filed against Vice President Duterte at the Senate in Pasay City on May 18, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

VP SARA IMPEACHMENT

Allison Co

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178073257337320260518-senate-impeachment-court-sotto-MT8.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senators formally convene as an impeachment court to try the complaints filed against Vice President Duterte at the Senate in Pasay City on May 18, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Following the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing conducted by the Cayetano bloc on Thursday, former Senate President Senator Vicente Sotto III said he will file libel and cyberlibel complaints against the 18 witnesses who claimed to be former Marines and alleged that he received kickbacks from flood control projects.</p><p>“I will decide who to charge by Monday. It might include the persons who brought and coached some of the 18 ex-bodyguards,” Sotto told ABS-CBN News on Saturday, June 6.</p><p>Former Blue Ribbon Committee chair Senator Panfilo Lacson also said the senators who led the hearing last Thursday could also face legal consequences.</p><p>Lacson cited possible violations of the Cyber Libel Law and Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code, which penalizes individuals who perform official acts without lawful authority.</p><p>“Yes, they can be charged, possibly for cyber libel and other crimes since it was a bogus hearing and no parliamentary immunity may be invoked, not even the senators who participated,” Lacson said in a statement on Friday.</p><p>The hearing also drew criticism from Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, who questioned why it was held despite the Ombudsman&#x27;s ongoing investigation into the alleged flood control anomalies.</p><p>“Ang tanong ko nga eh just thinking out loud, bakit nag-Blue Ribbon Committee hearing ulit dito sa flood control ano ba yan? Kasi ginagawa na namin yan eh trabaho na namin,” he said in a radio interview on Saturday.</p><p>Remulla said his office had initially received an invitation to attend the hearing.</p><p>“Actually nakatanggap kami ng imbitasyon. Sabi ko anong gagawin namin doon? Anong gagawin namin doon eh kami na nga yung nailagay doon sa Saligang Batas na dapat umayos ng mga ganitong problema ano pa yung gusto pa nilang kunin sa amin?,” he added.</p><p>He also said the Ombudsman had already <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/12/ombudsman-receives-senate-blue-ribbon-partial-report-1710)">received </a>the previous partial report prepared by Lacson, which lacked two signatures and therefore was not presented during the Senate plenary.</p><p>Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who claims he is still the Senate President, was among the senators who declined to sign the report.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="http://Escudero breaks Senate impasse despite Cayetano group’s boycott; Gatchalian elected as Senate president pro tempore">Escudero breaks Senate impasse despite Cayetano group’s boycott; Gatchalian elected as Senate president pro tempore</a></div><p>ABS-CBN News has reached out to the Cayetano bloc for comment but has yet to receive a response.</p><p>Remulla stressed that the Office of the Ombudsman should not be used as a venue for political maneuvering, particularly in cases involving flood control projects.</p><p>“May mga sinabi kasi si Jinggoy na si Senator Jinggoy Estrada na marami raw kumakausap sa kanya tungkol sa mga kaso ang sasabihin ko lang kung sino man ang usap nang usap, merong kumakausap eh hindi ho ako nakikipagusap kahit kanino tungkol sa ganyang bagay,” he said.</p><p>“Ayaw natin ma-weaponize yung opisina na ating pinangungunahan. We cannot weaponize it, hindi po ito pwedeng maging sandata ng pulitika,” Remulla added.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Gatchalian bloc&#x27;s Blue Ribbon Committee hearing is set for Monday and will be led by Senator Erwin Tulfo. The 18 witnesses have also been <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/5/gatchalian-bloc-blue-ribbon-committee-invites-18-alleged-bagmen-to-june-8-hearing-1403)">invited to attend</a> after claiming they delivered cash-filled suitcases to Tulfo and Senator Vicente Sotto III, among others.</p><p>Tulfo and Sotto have denied the allegations.</p><p>“Magkita-kita tayo sa lehitimong Blue Ribbon Committee Hearing,” Tulfo said in a statement on Thursday.</p><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/4/battle-of-blue-ribbons-shows-an-upper-house-still-divided-2148">Battle of &#x27;Blue Ribbons&#x27; shows an upper house still divided</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PoZ_So_JX3s?si=Q89hKriR7hDMYiMJ" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Former Senate President Senator Vicente Sotto III said he will file libel and cyberlibel complaints against the 18 witnesses who claimed to be former Marines and alleged that he received kickbacks from flood control projects.</p>

Former Senate President Senator Vicente Sotto III said he will file libel and cyberlibel complaints against the 18 witnesses who claimed to be former Marines and alleged that he received kickbacks from flood control projects.

Sotto to file raps vs 18 witnesses; Remulla questions Cayetano bloc Blue Ribbon hearing

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Sotto to file raps vs 18 witnesses; Remulla questions Cayetano bloc Blue Ribbon hearing

Allison Co,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 06, 2026 04:11 PM PHT

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Blue Ribbon Committee

Flood Control

Senate

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