The Manila Times
MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla denied blocking the entrance of the 18 former Marines who were scheduled to testify before the Cayetano-led Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Thursday that resulted in a heated confrontation between him and Sen. Robin Padilla. “I was walking out when I was pushed aside,” Remulla told reporters in a text message. Remulla was at the Senate at the request of newly-elected Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian to “ensure order and that the Senate premises are well-protected.” However, when Padilla and the 18 alleged former Marines were entering the Senate, they and the secretary clashed. Even Sen. Pia Cayetano said Remulla blocked her from entering the Senate. "I never thought the day would come when someone would prevent me from entering the Senate. This is my office," Cayetano said. Cayetano has been accusing the new majority of trying to block the Blue Ribbon hearing on the flood control controversy. During the hearing, names of some majority senators, including Tito Sotto and Erwin Tulfo, who was elected the new Blue Ribbon Committee chairman in Wednesday's Senate shake-up, was mentioned to have allegedly received suitcases of cash. Cayetano is presiding over a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the flood control controversy despite its cancelation by the panel's new chairman.
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