Blue Ribbon flood probe resumes, chaired by Tulfo

MANILA, Philippines — Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian’s bloc is set to hold its own Blue Ribbon committee inquiry today into the multibillion-peso flood control scandal under newly elected chair Sen. Erwin Tulfo.

The hearing serves as the first official legislative business for the 12-member bloc led by Gatchalian, following a dramatic leadership shakeup last week that stripped Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano of floor and committee control.

Tulfo earlier said he had invited the 18 self-styled bagmen, most of them former soldiers, who spoke at the Cayetano-led faction’s own “hearing” last Thursday.

The Gatchalian bloc has categorized that event as an unofficial, unauthorized meeting that lacks legal standing or parliamentary immunity.

“The official hearing will be conducted by chairman Erwin Tulfo on Monday,” Gatchalian told reporters late Saturday, adding that the 18 men must show up today if they wish to prove their claims. 

“You know... if what you possess is the truth, you should attend (today’s hearing). And if you have an invite anywhere to speak the truth, you should go because you know that you are telling the truth. You cannot just be selective of the venue,” he added.

While Tulfo’s office has yet to confirm the list of resource persons, he earlier said in interviews that the committee would invite former speaker Martin Romualdez.

Gatchalian said flood control contractor and suspect Curlee Discaya was not among those invited to today’s hearing.

Discaya, who already has an arrest warrant from the Sandiganbayan, remains under Senate custody after he was cited in contempt for supposedly lying in his testimonies during previous Blue Ribbon hearings.

Gatchalian said Discaya will be turned over to the Philippine National Police today.

Non-hearing

According to Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, Thursday’s Blue Ribbon hearing under ousted chair Sen. Pia Cayetano was a “non-hearing” and more of a gathering or meeting among some senators.

“I don’t think it was officially a part or record of the Senate. So, even if you try to consider that on the basis of the requirement in their rules, you just cannot simply call it a hearing, or there was a hearing,” Adiong stressed.

He clarified that the alleged hearing was not called by the new Senate leadership, and there were no Senate personnel to record the proceedings, where 18 bagmen reiterated their claim that they delivered funds to certain lawmakers as kickbacks from flood control projects.

“I mean, obviously, based on our own practices here in the House, it can never be called a hearing. What would be possible is that it was a meeting among and between, maybe it could be described as meeting between and among friends,” the senior administration lawmaker said.

Meanwhile, House public accounts panel chair and Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon described the 18 bagmen’s accusations as “barefaced lies and mere allegations.”