Ombudsman says representative denied entry after Marcoleta hits no-show

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday said its representative was initially “denied entry” after issues at the security checkpoint, which led to non-attendance at the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing led by Cayetano bloc.

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano made the clarification after Sen. Rodante Marcoleta noted that the Office of the Ombudsman did not deploy a representative despite their invitation.

“Upon arrival, our representative was denied entry at the security checkpoint after the QR code she had registered for and received was declined by the automated system at the entrance,” Clavano said in a statement.

READ: Blue ribbon committee: Pia Cayetano has plans, but Erwin Tulfo has say

To address this issue, Clavano said there was an offer on the part of some Senate staff for the representative to enter as a guest of senators instead.

READ: ‘Ex-marines’ repeat kickback claims; Sotto, Tulfo named

“However, when the offer was relayed to the office, there was a judgment call to no longer proceed seeing that the invitation to attend was sent by the Blue Ribbon Committee Secretariat and not by a particular Senator,” Clavano further said.

The blue ribbon committee hearing saw the presence of the so-called “18 Marines” who implicated several lawmakers in a kickback scheme. /cb