Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Erwin Tulfo announced on Tuesday that the chamber’s legal team is reviewing potential actions against minority bloc members planning an unauthorized assembly.
Tulfo issued a stern warning, stating that any lawmaker participating in an unofficial event that mimics a formal legislative inquiry could face charges for usurpation of authority.
He emphasized that formal committee investigations require proper legislative authorization.
“Hindi naman pwedeng anytime hahanap sila ng lugar, magpapanggap na mga blue ribbon hearing (kahit) hindi naman blue ribbon,” Tulfo stated during a radio interview. “Pag-aaralan ng legal team ng Senado kung ano ang nararapat na gawin,” he added.
The committee chairman also questioned the legitimacy of the minority bloc’s recent moves. He asserted that the inclusion of senators allied with former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano into the Blue Ribbon Committee is invalid because it did not receive plenary session approval.
Furthermore, Tulfo noted that staging committee activities outside official Senate venues could violate chamber rules and trigger ethics complaints.
The disputed gathering was originally set to take place at a private facility in Mandaluyong City.
Announced by former Anakalusugan Party-list Representative Mike Defensor, the meeting was organized to bring together minority senators, an informal group known as the “maleta boys,” and several alleged witnesses.
However, the venue management has since canceled the reservation and publicly distanced itself from the organizers, clarifying it has no connection to the planned assembly or its intended topics.