Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairperson Senator Erwin Tulfo announced plans to form a subcommittee led by Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan to handle the ongoing investigation into the country’s flood control anomaly.
Tulfo stated in a radio interview that the subcommittee will be formally established once the Senate session resumes and the Blue Ribbon Committee completes its floor organization.
He added that he will nominate Pangilinan for the chairmanship if a special session is called to confirm the leadership of Senate President Pro Tempore and acting Senate President Win Gatchalian.
“If that day will come, I myself, I will say, I will stand up, I am inhibiting myself from the flood control investigation. I will say, I let Sen. Kiko Pangilinan to preside a subcommittee that will handle anything about flood control,” Tulfo stated.
Tulfo assumed leadership of the powerful committee following a leadership shakeup initiated by the “Solid Bloc” on June 3, just before the sine die adjournment.
The transition has caused friction within the chamber; allies of embattled Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano held a hearing on June 4 featuring 18 witnesses who claimed to have delivered kickbacks from flood control projects to government officials.
Meanwhile, Tulfo held a separate consultative meeting on June 8, which was not attended by any of the 18 witnesses.
The creation of the subcommittee stems from Tulfo’s decision to recuse himself from the inquiry, as his name was mentioned in the witnesses’ testimonies.
Tulfo has since filed defamation complaints against three of the individuals and noted that stepping aside directly addresses a formal inhibition request from the witnesses’ counsel, Atty. Levito Baligod.
Additionally, Tulfo rejected calls for the Blue Ribbon Committee to conduct a separate probe into the 9 to 10 senators currently under investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman for the same issue.
He clarified that his predecessor, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, had already forwarded all gathered evidence to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla.
“Ombudsman Remulla has already spoken that the Senate should not meddle. We are only in aid of legislation,” Tulfo added.