Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chair Senator Erwin Tulfo announced on Sunday, August 2, that he will consult his colleagues before deciding whether to push forward with the Senate’s inquiry into alleged flood control project irregularities.
Tulfo explained that any formal decision remains on hold until the committee’s membership is officially organized.
“I don’t want to make a unilateral decision to drop it; Senate President (Sherwin) Gatchalian and I agreed to form the Blue Ribbon Committee membership first,” Tulfo said in a radio interview.
Once the panel is constituted, Tulfo plans to convene its members to gauge whether there is sufficient support to keep probing cases that have already been referred to the Office of the Ombudsman.
“Once formed, we will meet to seek everyone’s consensus on whether to pursue the case currently with the Ombudsman—listening to the views of the majority and the minority regarding the direction to take,” Tulfo further said.
”I will convene the committee and ask for the consensus of both the majority and minority. Should we continue handling these flood control cases? Especially those that have already been discussed, investigated (by the committee) and are now with the Ombudsman? Should we continue investigating them, or should we just leave them to the Ombudsman?” he added.
Tulfo highlighted the Senate’s heavy workload, pointing to pressing priorities such as the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, fast-tracking pending legislation, and reviewing oil prices.
“There is so much on our plate right now—impeachment proceedings, fast-tracking certain laws, and the issue of Oil Deregulation coming up next week. We need to discuss the latter and see if a price cap is feasible, given the current unchecked price hikes; we need to examine if a price cap can be applied,” he pointed out.
The committee’s previous hearing on the flood control issue took place on June 8, amidst a leadership contest between Senate President Win Gatchalian and Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano.
Given that the Ombudsman is actively investigating the matter, Tulfo raised questions regarding the necessity of a parallel Senate inquiry, noting the distinction in their core duties.
“So what’s the point? We conduct investigations in aid of legislation, while the Ombudsman investigates for possible prosecution,” Tulfo pointed out.
Nevertheless, Tulfo clarified that while the committee might step aside for the Ombudsman on current cases, it keeps the door open to launch new hearings if fresh leads or new officials are drawn into the issue.
“Yes, for those existing cases. But if there are new developments or new officials become implicated, then we will investigate,” he said.