Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chair Senator Erwin Tulfo announced that the panel will defer to the Office of the Ombudsman regarding cases linked to the flood control controversy.
The decision came after a closed-door coordination meeting with Senate President Win Gatchalian and Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla at the Ombudsman’s Central Office in Quezon City.
Tulfo noted an initial agreement with Remulla for the Ombudsman to take full charge of all flood control probes, given the high volume of existing complaints already under review.
“Pero initially, napag-usapan namin ni Ombudsman na everything that has to do with flood control, sila na maghahawak kasi ang dami na ring ongoing,” Tulfo said. “Tumatakbo na yung mga na-submit ng ICI sa kanila, yung mga congressmen, yung mga cong-tractors, at tsaka contractors, other government officials, mga kasamahan namin sa Senate and ranking officials, gumugulong na.”
Tulfo stated that Remulla requested full jurisdiction over the matter. To ensure the momentum of the ongoing proceedings remains undisturbed, the Senate panel chose not to intervene.
“So, kung baka pakialaman pa namin, mapurnada pa, and we don’t want to do that,” he noted. “So what he was saying, ‘Kami nang bahala,’ maybe you can start looking for, ika nga, other mga cases pag may mga dinala sa amin sa Senate.”
The committee had previously turned over documents and hearing statements that assisted in advancing cases, including those involving former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez.
“Initially, nagbigay na ng, ika nga, docs yung BRC dito sa Ombudsman. Kaya nga, ‘yun nga, gumulong na ‘yung kaso ni former Speaker at yung mga statements mula sa Blue Ribbon hearing,” Tulfo explained.
Regarding the remaining documents held by the panel, Tulfo clarified that a full committee meeting with both majority and minority members will take place before officially transferring all files.
“Well, we’ll just have to turn it over. But we’ll have to, ika nga, we’ll have to meet with the entire membership para pag-usapan namin yan. Both the majority and minority members of the Blue Ribbon,” he stated.