Sen. Chiz Escudero Dragged Into the Flood Control Mess Anew
CHIZ ESCUDERO – A man who claimed as allegedly a former bagman of Zaldy Co implicated the Senator in the flood control mess.
The tension in the Senate has caught national attention as two (2) blocs in the chamber stand on different sides with regards to the Senate leadership and the other committee chairmanships. Following the two-day absence of the then-majority bloc in the Senate plenary session, a change in leadership took place.
The majority bloc including then-Senate Pres. Alan Peter Cayetano was absent during the June 1 and 2 Senate plenary sessions, thus, the sessions did not push through. It ignited a call from the then-minority senators for Cayetano’s resignation.
On the third day of the absence of the then-majority bloc, Sen. Chiz Escudero who was one of them unexpectedly arrived for the Senate plenary session. His attendance led to a quorum of 12 and the senators resumed the session.
Sen. Chiz Escudero explained that he is standing for the Senate with regards to his decision to attend the plenary session. According to him, what is happening in the chamber should not continue.
The 12 senators voted to declare all positions in the chamber vacant. Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian was elected as Senate president pro tempore. They also changed the committee chairmanships.
- Finance:Â Sen. JV Ejercito
- National Defense and Security:Â Sen. Tito Sotto
- Public Order and Dangerous Drugs:Â Sen. Ping Lacson
- Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (Blue Ribbon Committee):Â Sen. Erwin Tulfo
- Public Services:Â Sen. Raffy Tulfo
- Basic Education:Â Sen. Bam Aquino
- Agriculture:Â Sen. Kiko Pangilinan
- Health and Demography:Â Sen. Risa Hontiveros
- Games and Amusement:Â Sen. Lito Lapid
- Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlements:Â Sen. Chiz Escudero
- Foreign Relations:Â Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri
Following the June 3 plenary session, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano stressed that he is allegedly still the legal and moral Senate president. According to him, the election of ‘new Senate President Pro Tempore’ Sherwin Gatchalian is allegedly illegal.
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano claimed that he loves Sen. Chiz Escudero as a “brother”. According to him, he understands the situation of the senators. The ‘now minority bloc’ pushed through with their flood control investigation despite the change in the committee chairmanships. They brought the 18 former marines who were allegedly men of Zaldy Co.
Recently, in a press conference, former Congressman Mike Defensor introduced four (4) more allegedly bagmen of Zaldy Co. Based on News5, one of them implicated Sen. Chiz Escudero in the flood control issue.
According to one of the alleged bagmen of Zaldy Co, he was allegedly part of the advance team who delivered suitcases filled with money to the residence of Sen. Chiz Escudero. He said it was the driver who knew the address of Escudero’s residence.
“Kami Sir ‘yung advance team Sir sa pag-deliver sa bahay ni Chiz Escudero. ‘Yung address po Sir talagang hindi ko po matukoy Sir kasi advance team kami nun Sir bale ‘yung nakakaalam Sir ‘yung drayber namin Sir,” the alleged bagman of Co said based on the post.
He further claimed that they were even allegedly offered food and they ate together with the household helpers of Sen. Chiz Escudero. According to him, they had shrimp.
“Sa loob ng bahay niya Sir, kumain pa kami diyan Sir ang ulam namin hipon kasama ko ‘yung mga katulong niya Sir,” the alleged bagman of the Senator said.
Another alleged bagman of Co claimed that he was allegedly part of the convoy of Zaldy Co and they went to the house of Sen. Chiz Escudero. He cited an address that is allegedly the residence of the Senator.
Escudero has yet to comment on the issue. Amid the tension in the Senate, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called for a special session with the senators.