Senator Imee Marcos has revealed that witnesses are expected to recant their testimonies during the upcoming Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing scheduled for Friday, November 14, which will investigate the flood control scandal. She also indicated that former Speaker Martin Romualdez may not attend the proceedings.

Speaking to media, Senator Marcos warned that witnesses would likely withdraw their previous statements and reverse their earlier testimonies due to alleged pressure and threats against their families.

"Magre-recant ang mga testigo, panoorin ninyo, sigurado ako dyan. Iisa isa yan biglang babaliktad, pinressure, tinakot ang pamilya, halos tinutukan ang asawa at anak."

["The witnesses will recant, watch and see, I'm certain about this. One by one they'll suddenly flip, having been pressured, their families threatened, with wives and children practically held at gunpoint,"]  Marcos stated.

When repeatedly asked by media whether she was referring to former security consultant Orly Guteza, who allegedly delivered suitcases of money to the address of resigned Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co, the presidential sister declined to confirm directly. 

Instead, she provided hints that the witness in question had provided personal knowledge about the anomaly, which included dropping major names and delivering significant testimony during the hearing.

According to Marcos, aside from this witness, others are allegedly being prevented from speaking and are no longer willing to be invited to testify.

"Sa palagay ko, kahit ano pang mag recant dyan, kahit ano pang mangyari, kahit si Guteza man kahit iba pang marines ay magbaliktaran. Diba sinsiraan na sya naumpisanahan na peke daw ang nanotirize, falsify daw, kung anu ano sinasabi, wala nang nainiwala sa inyo, nililinlang nyo ang sambayanang Pilipino, pero ang sambayang Pilipino hindi na magpapaloko."

["I believe that no matter who recants, no matter what happens, whether it's Guteza or other marines who turn around—they're already being slandered, claiming the notarization was fake, that documents were falsified, all sorts of allegations. Nobody believes you anymore; you're deceiving the Filipino people, but the Filipino people won't be fooled,"] the senator emphasized.

While Senator Marcos did not name those allegedly intimidating the witnesses, she described them as powerful individuals who are themselves afraid of being implicated in the corruption scandal. Despite these developments, she maintained that the entire Senate knows the truth, and the Filipino people are aware of who is involved in this corruption.

Regarding former Speaker Romualdez's potential absence, Marcos suggested there had been a change of plans about his appearance as a star witness.

"Hindi na star witness ang aking pinsan, yun ata ang original plan, e. JC: Nagbago ata isip, nahiya din, sa sarili. So di na attend? Ang narinig ko sya ang star witness, bibigyan ng witness protection. Pwede ba yun niloloko tayo ng lubus-lubusan."

["My cousin is no longer the star witness, that seemed to be the original plan. Maybe he changed his mind, felt ashamed. So he won't attend? What I heard was he would be the star witness and would be given witness protection. Is that even possible? They're completely fooling us,"] she remarked.

According to her sources, the seventeen congressmen who were also invited by Blue Ribbon Committee Chairperson Ping Lacson will now serve as replacement witnesses in the hearing.

The investigation continues to unfold as questions mount about witness intimidation and the credibility of testimonies in this high-profile corruption case. - with reports from Evan Alvarez, UNTV Correspondent

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