The Manila Times

Erwin Tulfo’s blue ribbon to probe flood control mess

THE Blue Ribbon Committee under the “new” majority bloc of Sen. Erwin Tulfo will conduct on Monday its own investigation into the flood control fund mess. Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, chairman of the Blue Ribbon Subcommittee under the “old” majority bloc led by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, held a similar inquiry on June 4, inviting the 18 former Marines as resource persons. Tulfo also invited the 18 former soldiers, most of whom used to be the bodyguards of resigned party-list representative Zaldy Co, who has fled the Philippines and sought political asylum in France. It was not certain if the committee hearing held by the Cayetano bloc was valid, since no official and personnel from the Senate Blue Ribbon Oversight Management Office (Broom) were present to provide documentary requirements. The Broom secretary was the one tasked with requiring invited guests or witnesses to take their oath before testifying. This prompted Cayetano to assume that role. The hearing was not livestreamed by the Senate information bureau, giving the impression that the hearing was not an official business. Tension flared when the Senate security prevented the 18 former soldiers from entering the Senate premises. They were invited by the Cayetano bloc to attend the inquiry. Sen. Pia Cayetano, blue ribbon chairman of the Cayetano camp, had to “fetch” some of them who were being held at the Senate lobby. They were accompanied by their lawyer Levito Baligod and former representative Mike Defensor. The ex-Marines stuck to their previous testimony that they delivered suitcases filled with millions of pesos to the residences of some politicians, including Rep. Martin Romualdez and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Tulfo appealed to fellow senators to unite amid the chaos brought about by the power struggle in the chamber. On Sunday, Tulfo also asked for forgiveness from the people. “Because of recent clashes, the session ended without advancing crucial legislation,” he said. “I call upon my fellow senators: let us end this division. Because of the seemingly endless arguments on politics, our mandate was paralyzed. And the Filipino people are the real losers here,” he said. Over the past few days, the public “witnessed intense tension and emotion within the Senate,” he said. “In recognition of the high institution to which I belong, I sincerely apologize to my colleagues for my aggressive remarks regarding the arrest, manhandling, and dragging of Senator [Alan] Cayetano and other individuals out of the session or plenary hall,” he said. “This is not how an official, much less a senator, should behave. Those words, though inappropriate in public, came from my deep desire to stop delaying the work we owe the people. However, it was still wrong,” Tulfo said. Also on Sunday, Cayetano said that he did not authorize the public hearing to be held today, June 8. He made the “clarification” in his June 6 letter to Levito Baligod, counsel of the 18 former soldiers who were invited to attend the Tulfo-led inquiry on the flood control project controversy. He said the “hearing purportedly set for June 8 was ‘not authorized’ by this office (Office of the President), by Sen. Pia Cayetano as committee chairman, or by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta as subcommittee chairman.”