Photo courtesy of the Office of the Ombudsman.
The Office of the Ombudsman said it was unable to attend a Senate hearing after its representative encountered problems at the entry point of the chamber.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said their delegate was not allowed to pass through the security checkpoint upon arrival despite prior registration.
He explained that the representative’s access code was rejected by the automated system at the entrance, preventing her from entering the premises.
The clarification came after Sen. Rodante Marcoleta raised concerns over the Ombudsman’s absence during the blue ribbon committee inquiry led by allies of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.
Clavano said Senate personnel later offered a workaround that would have allowed the representative to enter under the sponsorship of a senator.
The office, however, decided not to proceed after assessing the situation, noting that the invitation had come from the committee secretariat rather than an individual lawmaker.
The hearing pushed through without the Ombudsman’s participation and featured testimonies from a group of former Marines.
The group reiterated allegations linking several lawmakers to an alleged kickback scheme discussed during the inquiry.