Matibag to Cayetano: ‘Face me’ at Monday’s blue ribbon hearing

MANILA, Philippines — National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag challenged Senator Alan Peter Cayetano to meet him at the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on Monday and ask him all his questions there.

Matibag confirmed that he has received an invitation from the “proper” committee headed by its newly elected chairperson, Senator Erwin Tulfo.

READ: Cayetano dares Matibag to attend blue ribbon hearing

“Alan Peter Cayetano is still a member of the Senate. Kung gusto niya akong makaharap at tanungin, mag-attend siya sa hearing sa Lunes. Nandoon ako, (If he wants to face me and question me, he should attend the hearing on Monday. I will be there,)” Matibag said in a roundtable discussion with Inquirer editors and staff on Friday.

“You can ask every question that you have for me, even my favorite color,” he said.

These remarks came as Cayetano on Thursday dared Matibag to appear before their committee and present evidence regarding the information the NBI received regarding the 18 alleged former Marines each being bribed P5 million to testify as “bagmen” for former congressman Elizaldy Co.

The validity of Cayetano bloc’s Thursday hearing has been questioned following the leadership shakeup on June 3 when 12 senators declared quorum and installed Sen. Win Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore.

Sen. Erwin Tulfo, who was elected to replace Sen. Pia Cayetano as chairperson of the blue ribbon committee, released a memo moving the said hearing from its initial Thursday, June 4 schedule to next Monday, June 8.

Despite being a no-show in the Senate for three days, the Cayetano bloc showed up Thursday and proceeded with the hearing.

They maintained that the quorum of 12 was invalid as at least 13 is needed, citing the Constitution and Senate rules.

READ: Matibag: NBI received info that Defensor bribed ‘18 ex-Marines’ P5M each

During their hearing, Cayetano said that since the NBI director likes coming to the Senate premises without an invitation, he is now “free to come.” “I invite you to do so now,” Cayetano said.

Matibag, however, dismissed Cayetano’s verbal invite, likening it to an informal invitation to a “birthday party.”

“Senator Alan’s statement may sound good if he were in a barbershop or a noodle house, but when we’re talking about legal matters, that simply won’t do,” he said.

Matibag called the Cayetano-led committee “not legitimate.”

READ: Cayetano bloc defies new majority, holds hearing

Speaking as a lawyer, Matibag told Inquirer, “Legally, the status quo right now is that the recognized acting Senate President is Win Gatchalian, and technically, the Blue Ribbon Committee is headed not by Pia Cayetano but by Erwin.”

Asked in the roundtable whether he would attend if formally invited by Cayetano’s group, Matibag said, “They’re not the legitimate Blue Ribbon Committee, so I will not be appearing.”

“You give me a valid invitation from the proper Blue Ribbon Committee, and I will attend.” /jpv