Senator Erwin Tulfo on Friday called on Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano to exercise patience regarding the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s upcoming review of flood control projects, noting that the panel plans to center its efforts on unexamined issues.
The statement followed Cayetano’s earlier remarks expressing support for a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) probe into alleged procurement anomalies concerning the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, on the condition that opposition lawmakers also be permitted to look into suspicious flood control initiatives.
Cayetano’s comments were prompted by NBI Director Melvin Matibag’s announcement that the agency is looking into infrastructure irregularities and unliquidated funds tied to the SEA Games, which were overseen by a foundation led by Cayetano at the time.
“So madali lang yan, Malacanang. Kasi sumusunod naman sa inyo, sina Sen. Erwin, sina Sen. Lacson, yung mga nasa Blue Ribbon, kalabitin nyo na,” Cayetano said in a social media livestream.
In a DZMM interview, Tulfo explained that the Blue Ribbon Committee must first select a vice chairperson and fill positions for the minority bloc following the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27.
“Mayroon pong kaming mga investigation na gagawin sa flood control, so ika mo, relax lang, ‘wag masyado hot… Talaga naman kung ano na lang si Boy Banat. Dadating po tayo d’yan. Hindi po natin titigilan ‘yang flood control na ‘yan,” Tulfo said.
Tulfo further pointed out that legal complaints have already been lodged against specific legislators and contractors connected to the alleged flood control anomalies.
“Ngayon, kung sasabihin niya (Cayetano), imbestigahan na naman ito, para ano pa? Mayroon na nga pong kaso,” he said. “Ang hahanapin ko po yung bago.”
He emphasized that subsequent legislative inquiries would focus on fresh evidence and separate infrastructure developments requiring evaluation.
“Ang iimbestigahan na flood control, kung may bagong ebidensya na naman laban sa isang tao, ibang project na naman. For example, si Zaldy Co, bukod sa flood control, mayroon pa pala siyang mga farm-to-market road, mayroon pa pala siyang mga eskwelahan na ipinatayo na ika nga ghost schools,” Tulfo added.
During the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte earlier this week, Cayetano claimed the NBI’s scrutiny of the SEA Games was a tactic to “intimidate” him.
His sister, Senator Pia Cayetano, similarly asserted that the probe was an attempt at harassment meant to distract him from the impeachment proceedings.