Ridon challenges ‘Ex-Marines’ to attend June 8 blue ribbon panel hearing

Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon shows a luggage full of mangos and wig during the Saturday News Forum on June 6, 2026. (Screenshot from Congress TV livestream/Youtube)

MANILA, Philippines — Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon on Saturday challenged the 18 alleged former Marines to attend the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on Monday, saying their refusal to show up will prove their allegations are baseless. 

Ridon’s challenge came after the alleged former Marines, who also claimed to be “bagmen” of former lawmaker Zaldy Co, attended the blue ribbon panel hearing pushed by the bloc of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday despite the Senate leadership reorganization.

During Thursday’s hearing, they claimed to have delivered suitcases full of money from Co to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., his son Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and several lawmakers, including Ridon. 

Ridon has denied the allegations made by Jowly Cadiao, one of the alleged former Marines, saying these will not stop the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. 

Ridon is part of the 11-man House prosecution panel for Duterte’s impeachment trial. 

READ: Ridon: No money delivered to me; lies can’t stop impeachment trial

“This is very important, this is a challenge to the former 18 bodyguards. Show up in the Monday blue ribbon committee hearing of blue ribbon chaimanr Erwin Tulfo. Recall what you said in the last hearing,” Ridon said partly in Filipino in the Saturday News Forum.

Senator Erwin Tulfo, the new chairperson of the blue ribbon committee, has invited the alleged former Marines to the hearing on Monday.

Bernard Guman, another alleged former Marine, also claimed to have delivered cash-stuffed luggage twice to what he was told was Tulfo’s residence in Greenhills.

Tulfo also denied the allegations and said that he will file a libel case after the hearing on Monday. 

Ridon said Monday’s hearing will be the legitimate hearing conducted with the full secretariat and under oath. 

“If they can subject themselves to congressional scrutiny under an official proceeding like what will happen on Monday, then that’s where we will test if their claims have credibility and if they are not lying,” Ridon said.

“If they did not attend, it’s clear that their claims are baseless and pure lies,” he added.

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

After the Senate leadership change last Wednesday, the new majority bloc called the Thursday hearing as “bogus” and “naked grab for power,” saying that it is “nothing more than a self-serving spectacle meant to cling to positions they have already lost in a valid and constitutional reorganization of the Senate.”

Moreover, lawyer Dino de Leon said the alleged 18 former Marines, whom he described as “18 liars,” were being used by the camp of Cayetano.  /gsg