‘Ex-Marines’ drag Marcos, Sotto into corruption allegations during Cayetano-led flood control probe

[0:00] The power struggle continues at the Senate, with two blocks clashing over control of the upper [0:05] chamber's leadership. What began as a shake-up Wednesday has now spilled into a test of authority. [0:11] Senator Sherwin Gachalian, who was elected Senate President pro tempore, insisted earlier that there [0:17] would be no Blue Ribbon Committee hearing today. And despite that announcement, the hearing on the [0:21] flood control mess pushed through anyway, under the leadership of Senator Pia Cayetano. Senator [0:27] Allen, Peter Cayetano, continues to defy the new leadership, maintaining he remains the [0:32] legitimate Senate President, and that his allies still control key committees, including the [0:38] powerful Blue Ribbon Panel. [0:43] Julie elected ng majority. Of course, si Secretary Ray Bantog, ang Julie elected secretary natin, [0:49] ang ating sergeant at arms, si General Corpus, and of course, yours truly, bilang the Esprit [0:55] pro tempore. [0:56] Ako, hindi ako mahilig sa mga padlak-padlak. Basta sundan lang yung protocol. So, ibig sabihin [1:05] may mga protocols tayo for security. For example, kung walang hearing, di walang resource [1:11] persons. So, wala rin mga arrangements kung walang hearing. Kasi wala naman officially hearing [1:20] today. [1:21] This is not against the administration. This is not for the administration. This is not [1:26] for any political party. I ran in 2022 as an independent. I became Senate President with [1:33] 13 people with different political belief. This is about the truth. The legitimate Senate [1:41] president pro tempore is Loren Legarda. Our Senate Secretary is Jose Luis Montales. [1:47] Sabi po sa Section 4C, pwedeng magkaroon ng acting if, in the event of resignation, hindi [1:56] po ako nag-resign. In the event of removal, tinanong ko sa mga kapatid natin sa media kahapon, [2:01] did they remove us yesterday? You need a vote of 13 to remove us. Am I dead? Death? I don't [2:11] think I'm dead. Absolute incapacity of the president. Siguro naman po, I'm in control [2:17] of my faculties. [2:18] President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. being dragged into corruption allegations made by individuals [2:30] who claim to be former Marines. During today's Senate flood control probe, the 18 Marines [2:35] reiterated their claims they delivered suitcases of cash ranging from 20 million to 70 million [2:42] pesos to several officials in various tranches. The list includes former House Speaker Martin [2:49] Romualdez and fugitive former Congressman Zaldico. Some of them are also claiming cash was [2:54] delivered to the president in his bailiwick, Ilocos Norte. Senate President Vicente will make [3:06] that former Senate President Vicente Soto III and other lawmakers also dragged into the controversy [3:11] by the self-proclaimed former Marines. [3:20] It was delivered by Senator Tito Soto. [3:23] Can you verify it? [3:25] That time, Your Honor, we had an advanced team, Your Honor. [3:30] We were first in the area. [3:31] We advised our team leader to proceed to the building of Tito Soto in Baclaran. [3:39] So after lunch, we were there on board. [3:43] Now, we were waiting for Bussaldi to come. [3:46] Bussaldi to come. [4:20] I took the two and put it in the elevator. [4:25] Then the rest of the other stuff, I didn't have to take it. [4:29] It was the first one. [4:30] What did you deliver? [4:34] Pera. [4:35] Do you know how much? [4:37] Large. [4:39] Large usually? [4:41] 40 to 70. [4:44] So how did you deliver? [4:47] 40 to 70. [4:48] So just one thing? [4:50] 5. [4:50] 5. [4:51] Year 2024. [4:53] Before the campaign period. [4:56] Yes, po. [4:57] Okay. [4:57] Joining us on the program, Senator Vicente Soto III himself. [5:05] Senator Soto, good afternoon to you. [5:07] Thanks for joining us today. [5:08] Welcome to the program. [5:11] Hi, Carmina. [5:12] Good afternoon. [5:13] Thank you. [5:14] Thank you for having me. [5:14] Now, Senator Soto, we were supposed to be talking about completely another topic, and that's what had transpired in the past days. [5:22] We're going to talk about that also in a bit. [5:24] But first, the fresh allegations now coming from this ex-Marine saying that you received money from either Zaldicor, Romualdez, or even the palace. [5:34] Did you receive any money from former Congressman Zaldicor? [5:40] No. [5:41] I definitely would like to address that statement because I heard it earlier, and my staff started writing down what they were saying. [5:51] And I'm glad we will be able to tackle that so that we can set it aside and put it in the trash can. [6:01] First of all, if you're talking of 2024, I was not a government official in 2024. [6:07] Campaign period 2024? [6:10] No. [6:11] 2025, I have a campaign period. [6:13] So, really, that came out a long time ago, but I didn't want to dignify the bogus statement and the bogus hearing, which is happening right now. [6:25] It's completely illegal. [6:27] But then again, if people are asking, if you're asking, let's answer closely what they said. [6:37] They said a limousine of Zaldicor entered the basement of my building. [6:42] First of all, I do not have a building. [6:45] We have a PR office in a building near Baclara. [6:50] That's one. [6:51] Two, a limo will not fit in the basement of that building. [7:01] And then they mentioned something like my EA, a certain mark. [7:07] I only have one mark. [7:11] Mark Rosales, who died in 2015. [7:15] So, they're talking of 2024. [7:17] They might have seen a ghost if they were really there. [7:21] And then they said a security, a security officer of Senator Soto. [7:28] I never had any security from 1992 to the present. [7:31] So, and I was not even a senator in 2024. [7:36] Baka nakalimutan nila, siguro, sa paggawa nila, what do you call that. [7:45] But anyway, so... [7:46] Yeah, Senator Soto, you did run in the midterm elections, correct? [7:51] I did run in the 2025, yes. [7:55] Midterm elections. [7:55] So, could this possibly... [7:59] In 2022, my term ended. [8:02] Yes. [8:03] Could this possibly be, you know, something that, I don't know, to fund your campaign for 2025? [8:12] We were not even sure of running for 2025 around 2024, even during the last two, three months of 2024. [8:23] Okay. [8:23] So, and why? [8:25] Why? [8:26] Why would I be given... [8:28] Why would I be given flood control... [8:31] I think it's flood control money they're talking about. [8:34] Why will I be given flood control money for campaign when I'm not in office, number one? [8:43] Second, yung sinasabi, what, 40 to 70 million daw? [8:47] Limong maleta? [8:49] I have yet to see a suitcase where 40 million will fit. [8:56] All right. [8:56] So, let's go down the names. [9:00] Did you ever receive any money from former House Speaker Martin Romualdez? [9:06] No. [9:07] Never. [9:08] Did you ever receive money from the palace, Senator Soto? [9:11] Never. [9:13] Never. [9:13] Do... [9:15] All the money I spent for the 2025 elections are in my associate, in my statements of contributions and expenditures. [9:25] It's all there, including the personal money that I spent. [9:30] Okay. [9:31] Let's go back. [9:32] Well, I think we should just throw it in the wastebasket, you know. [9:38] Kasi, anong, anong, anong... [9:42] Magpaligay natin may dinala sila sa akin, you know. [9:44] But I'm saying it's not true. [9:47] But if indeed they sent money to me, so what did I violate? [9:52] I am... [9:55] I was a private citizen. [9:57] I am not a senator. [9:58] I am not a congressman. [9:59] Unlike somebody who's claiming all these things, but he's the one who accepted during that time that he was a legislator. [10:06] But maybe it was an advance payment for something that... [10:10] Opo. [10:10] Pero let's disabuse the minds of those who might believe, no? [10:15] So even if you're saying that, okay, for the sake of argument, it's true, what law did you violate? [10:22] But it could also be seen as, you know, an advance payment for something that you could do that would be beneficial to them in the long run once you win. [10:31] Then the people who will say that do not know me. [10:34] You can ask some businessmen who have dealt with some committee hearings in the Senate. [10:44] It is a very known fact that Senator Laxon and I do not accept any bribes or do not accept any contributions. [10:54] We know that it comes from illegitimate sources. [10:58] It has been proven many, many times. [11:01] So, alam nila yan. [11:03] Talagin nyo yung mga negosyante. [11:05] Sila nakakahalam yan. [11:06] Especially the big businessmen. [11:09] Pagdating sa ganyan. [11:11] So, what for? [11:12] Anong favor ang kihingin sa akin sa 2025? [11:15] Yan titigas ng ulo namin, ang hirap namin kausap pagdating sa pera. [11:20] Bakit? [11:20] Anong mapapala nila sa amin? [11:22] It's foolish. [11:23] As I said, you know, we should throw it in the West Biscuit of history. [11:27] Yung claim nilang yan, matagal nang sinasabi yan some time ago. [11:31] So, ang maganda nga, dapat tinanong nila, kailan, anong day, anong year? [11:37] Remember, there was some time, many years ago, nung merong nagsasabi na meron daw dinala sa akin na ganito, ganyan-ganyan. [11:46] Ang una namin tinanong eh, what day and what time? [11:52] Nung nagbigay sila ng day and time, nasa stage ako. [11:57] Kaya, ano, madaling nga yan. [11:58] Madaling talagang, as I said, you should put it in the wayside that nakakahiya. [12:04] Nakakahiya ang pag-usapan niya. [12:05] Nakakahiya ang mga claim yan. [12:06] Dahil, ang magpigat dito, it comes from a bogus hearing. [12:14] As I said, that's not a hearing. [12:17] That is a meeting. [12:19] I-regard at that. [12:21] I-legitimate. [12:21] Yeah, before we continue on with that, I just want to raise one more point because hindi lang po ang pangalan ninyo ang nabanggit doon sa kung anong nakikita natin ngayon in our inset, pati pangalan po ng inyong matalik na kaibigan si Senator Panfilo Laxon. [12:36] And the names came from no one else but Senator Alan Peter Cayetano. [12:42] Siya po ang sinabi niya, alam naman, and this is not verbatim, but alam naman natin na yung dating Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chair na si Senator Panfilo Laxon at si Senator Tito Soto ay mag-partners yan sa kanilang, kumbaga mag-ally po kayo. [13:02] This is shortly after your name was mentioned. [13:04] So what would you make of that innuendo, that insinuation bringing Senator Panfilo Laxon also into the conversation? [13:14] Pero hindi naman din nasundan ng kung ano pang substantial statements coming from Senator Cayetano, only that he brought up the name of your good friend, Senator Panfilo Laxon as well. [13:24] Do you see, napakasama ng mga insinuation na gano'n. [13:29] I think they're clutching to straws at this point. [13:35] Yung mga huling hininga na natalo ka, na ika nga, ang sinasabi nga natin is the country needs work and statesmanship. [13:47] Pagkatapos, hindi kami sinisipot ng ilang araw. [13:50] Pagkatapos, yung pala, ang dahilan talaga is ayaw mapalitan sapagkat sampun na lang sila. [13:56] Diba? Eleven akala nila, yung pala, sampun na sila because disgruntled na yung ibang mga kasama nila. [14:03] Sabi nga ni Senator Escudero, it's an untenable animal. [14:08] Sabi ni Senator Escudero, his move was not about loyalty. [14:14] It was not about betrayal. [14:15] It was not choosing one group from the other. [14:19] He said it is about duty. [14:21] So, at this point, diba, nagtatrabaho tayo dapat eh. [14:27] I think the way people have seen how Senator Charvin handled the budget, [14:38] and I have been Senate President again the third time for that, [14:42] ang kailangan namin, statementship, hindi showmanship. [14:45] Eh, yung mga ganyang mga insinuation, mga ganyang salita pa, [14:49] obviously, sour gripping. [14:54] Ayan ang masasabi ko. [14:56] February 2026 pa yung mga sinasabi nila, apidapit na yan, wala namang bago, may mga corrections lang. [15:02] Pagka nakita kasi na may mistake, noong una, sinasama si Senator Dilima. [15:07] So, Senator Dilima, anong mapapala nila? [15:12] Katulad na sa akin, anong mapapala nila na nabigyan kami, hindi naman kami nakaupo noon? [15:17] Senator Dilima, hindi naman congresswoman noon. [15:19] Ako, hindi naman ako senator noon. [15:21] Diba? [15:22] So, insinuation noon, ande, baka may hihingin pabor. [15:25] May hihingin pabor, ganun kalaki. [15:27] Ganun kalaki pinag-uusapan, 40 million to 70 million sa isang maleta, limang maleta. [15:33] Aba, ano, it's weird. [15:37] It's way out. [15:38] Talagang, ano, sabagay. Pagkayang ganun, mayroon talagang mga gali po. [15:44] Senator Soto, let's talk about what happened yesterday. [15:48] You called this hearing, as we are seeing it right now, as a bogus hearing. [15:52] But what makes the events yesterday that transpired, what made your move illegal? [15:59] What made the Soto bloc's actions legal yesterday that you're now able to call this with conviction? [16:10] This is a bogus hearing. Go ahead. [16:13] Oh, well, we had the quorum. [16:18] What was happening is that rule 14 of our rules, no? [16:26] Rule 14, section 41, the president, the senate president, meaning after consultation with the minority leader, [16:35] can't postpone holding these sessions. [16:37] So, we really felt that the Filipino people deserve senators who show up for work, not who show up for drama. [16:58] And so, we were 11. We waited. How many? Ilang araw yun? Nag-iintay kami, di ba? [17:06] We stayed there until about 7 p.m. [17:10] And then, all of a sudden, Senator Jesus Kudero felt everything was untenable anymore and came over. [17:17] So, we had a quorum, a 12. 12 is a quorum, as far as the senate is concerned. [17:25] If there are only 22 members who are in the coercive power, within the coercive power of the senate, [17:33] it has been, there is a jurisprudence to that effect, the Abilino versus Cuenco. [17:38] Not only that, the senate has done this five times. [17:43] I can give you the dates of these quorum calls that the senate has done. [17:50] And all, if I'm not mistaken, three or four of these 12 member senate quorum included Senator Cayetano, Senator Pia, and Senator Loren. [18:06] So, it's definitely legitimate. [18:12] As a matter of fact, the House of Representatives acknowledged it. [18:16] The executive department acknowledged it. [18:19] It's only the group of 10. [18:22] Just as a final question. [18:24] Who cannot face the fact that we did. [18:28] We did declare all positions vacant. [18:30] And therefore, there is a vacancy in the office of the senate president and other committees that we did not elect a chairman of. [18:42] Just as a final question, Senator Soto, because we are running out of time. [18:47] Once the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, called by Acting Senate President Sherwin Gachalian, is realized come Monday, I believe that is the date. [18:59] How do you prove to the people that that hearing will not be conducted to protect the palace and the former speaker of the house, [19:09] as is being suggested by the Cayetano faction? [19:13] Go ahead. [19:14] Well, to see is to believe. [19:17] Let's see who is lying. [19:19] Let's see who has been lying all these many years. [19:23] And let's see what will happen in our hearing. [19:27] Tignan natin kung may katotohanan yung binibintang nila o yung mga sinasabi ng mga kasama ko, [19:34] na kasi nung lingang binitawan na nila noong pa hanggang ngayon ay puro kasi nung halingan pa rin. [19:38] And that's why I'm not surprised. [19:42] I will not be surprised that some other senators would wake up. [19:48] Because ang dami namin na pending, ang dami na beating, na beating all because they wanted to keep their position. [19:55] Kaya naman nila ako, ang bilis, meron ka 13, walika. [20:00] O ito, meron kami 12. [20:01] E wala na yung 24. [20:04] Kaya nga sabihin nila eh, [20:07] kailan daw naging 12 ang 13? [20:10] Sabi ko, noong naging 22 ang 24. [20:15] Yung naging 12 ang 13. [20:17] And the Supreme Court says so. [20:19] Ang dami namin na pending. [20:21] CA, Confessional Appointments Confirmation, [20:24] dalawang citizenships, [20:25] tatlong third reading na importante, [20:27] lalo na sa protection ng mga kababayan natin sa ospital, [20:33] mga barangay workers, sa health workers. [20:35] Sipi mo yung ginawang yun, [20:36] dahil lamang ayaw maalis sa pwesto, [20:39] at dahil sampu na lang sila, [20:42] hindi, naka, [20:43] maintindihan sana ng mga kababayan natin. [20:47] Alam mo kasi, [20:48] the problem, Carmina, [20:49] is that there are people whose minds are closed. [20:53] Kaya, ako napaniniwalaan nila, [20:55] yun napaniniwalaan nila. [20:56] Pero, the important thing is that [20:58] they will see within their conscience [21:02] what the truth is. [21:04] Would you be... [21:04] And, let's see, in your question, [21:07] let's see on Monday, [21:07] tignan natin kung may po-proteksyonan [21:10] ang new majority ng Senado. [21:12] Kung wala ho kayong pinoproteksyonan, [21:15] will you also invite the 18 Marines here [21:17] that we're seeing in our insets? [21:19] Who? The? [21:20] The 18 Marines. [21:21] Yeah, the legitimate ex-Marines. [21:27] Because, hindi rin lahat marinsyan eh. [21:30] Hindi rin totoo eh. [21:31] Sabi ng Philippine Navy. [21:35] Elistahan ng Philippine Navy [21:37] kung sino lang daw ang totoo dun, [21:38] at hindi eh. [21:39] All right. [21:39] So, we'll find out. [21:41] I'm sure they will not tackle that [21:42] in their bogus meeting, [21:44] or bogus hearing, [21:45] but we can tackle that next week. [21:47] All right. [21:48] Alaman natin kung sino ang sasabi ng totoo, [21:50] at kung ay kanga'y sino sila. [21:53] Okay, we're gonna have to leave it at that [21:55] because we've run out of time. [21:56] Former Senate President, [21:57] Vicente Soto III, [21:59] joining us this noon. [21:59] Maraming salamat po. [22:00] Yes, ma'am. [22:01] Thank you very much. [22:02] Thank you. [22:02] Thank you. [22:02] All right. [22:04] From there... [22:04] Thank you.