Senator Rodante Marcoleta on Tuesday denied allegations circulating online that he is protecting the Discayas and allegedly demanded ₱1 billion in exchange for such protection.

During a heated Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Marcoleta insisted that it was broadcaster Ramon Tulfo, brother of Senators Erwin and Raffy Tulfo, who first spread the claim.

“Ang sinasabi po nila kinakampihan ko raw ang mga Discaya. Hindi po. Tuntunin po natin from the beginning, I’m very consistent, ang batas po ang aking sinusunod,” Marcoleta said.

According to the lawmaker, an intrigue was sown, suggesting that a legislator approached the Discayas to ask for ₱1 billion.

“Mayroon po kasing isang tao ang nag-intriga, isa raw mambabatas ang lumapit sa Discaya humihingi raw po ng P1 billion pesos. Kapatid po ata ‘yon ng ating colleague, si Ramon Tulfo," he said.

"Ngayon ang dami nagsasabi na baka ako 'yon,” Marcoleta added.

In a Facebook post, broadcaster Ramon Tulfo raised questions on whether a lawmaker had returned the ₱120 million he allegedly received from the Discaya couple in exchange for protecting them.

According to Tulfo, the lawmaker was said to have initially asked for ₱1 billion, but the amount was later reduced to ₱120 million after negotiations.

Tulfo clarified in his post that he was not referring to Senator Rodante Marcoleta, who has been pushing for the Discayas to be recognized as state witnesses. He emphasized that the lawmaker in question was someone else.

Discayas Witness Protection Program

The issue flared up amid debates over the credibility of witnesses seeking protection under the Witness Protection Program (WPP), particularly former DPWH officials Henry Alcantara and Brice Hernandez, along with the government contractor couple Sarah and Curlee Discaya.

Tensions earlier rose when Marcoleta questioned Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla’s statement that the Discayas should return money allegedly linked to corruption before their WPP application could be accepted. Marcoleta argued that such a requirement is not found in the law.

“Kaya importante po ang itatanong ko sana sapagkat kaninang tinatanong ko siya pinipilit niya ang opinyon niya [DOJ Secretary Boying Remulla] na kinakailangan talaga na magsauli 'yung mga Discaya para tanggapin niya ang aplikasyon [Witness Protection Program], wala naman po talaga sa batas ‘yun,” Marcoleta stressed.

Blue Ribbon Committee Chair Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, however, defended his earlier remarks that Hernandez was more credible than the Discayas.

“For the record you honor, naniniwala ako sa mga pahayag nila [Discayas] ngayon,” Lacson said.

Marcoleta earlier questioned the “objectivity” of the ongoing proceedings, citing Lacson’s media interview where the senator said Hernandez was more deserving to become a state witness than the Discaya couple.

"Does the chairman has the prerogative or right to make [a] judgment?" Marcoleta asked Lacson.

"No. That’s my perspective, that’s my personal opinion outside the hearing, so don’t question my opinion," Lacson answered.

Marcoleta suggested that the committee refrain from giving personal opinions, noting that the course of the discussion would reveal who could shed light and help the investigation.

The clash that had earlier erupted between Senators Marcoleta and Lacson carried on even after the committee temporarily suspended the hearing.

At one point, Lacson directly asked Marcoleta: “Why are you so protective of the Discayas?”

“I am not protecting the Discayas," Marcoleta fired back.

The Senate is currently investigating alleged large-scale anomalies in flood control and other infrastructure projects in Bulacan, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had flagged.

This prompted the President to create the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) to conduct a parallel probe.