Erwin Tulfo is acting chairman of Blue Ribbon panel — Sotto

Senator Erwin Tulfo is now the acting chairperson of the Senate blue ribbon committee, following the resignation of Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson from the post, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III confirmed Wednesday.

“Erwin is the vice chairman, therefore in the absence of the chairman, he automatically becomes chairman. He is automatically the acting chairman of the blue ribbon,” Sotto said in an ambush interview.

“We all agreed that he is the acting chairman. So, I called him and I made sure that he accepted it, and he did accept it,” he added. 

Sotto said that Tulfo is currently abroad, but when he comes back, they will conduct a meeting in the committee.

He also clarified that it has yet to be decided whether Tulfo will be the permanent chairman of the committee.

Tulfo, in response, welcomed the development.

"Umaasa tayo na sa lalong madaling panahon ay makakahanap na rin ng permanenteng chairman ang napakahalagang komiteng ito,” he said in a statement.

(We hope that this very important committee will soon find a permanent chairman.)

“Batid ko po na maraming kababayan natin ang umaasa sa komiteng ito na imbestigahan ang lahat ng mga nagsamantala sa pera ng bayan ano pa man ang katungkulan nila sa pamahalaan o kulay ng politika.”

(I know that many of our countrymen are counting on this committee to investigate all those who took advantage of the public's money, regardless of their position in the government or political color.)

Other candidates

Sotto said that senators of the majority bloc are still not discounting the five candidates who may possibly be elected as new panel chairman, namely: Kiko Pangilinan, JV Ejercito, Pia Cayetano, Raffy Tulfo, and Risa Hontiveros.

“Basta sila pa rin ang kandidato namin (they are still our candidates). Lahat ng mga kasama namin (all of our members), any of the five, especially Senator Lacson,” Sotto said.

The Senate President, however, explained that none of the five wants to fill the post “right now,” citing the need to focus on the committees they are already currently heading.

Pangilinan, Ejercito, and Raffy Tulfo have already turned down the offer.

Cayetano, meanwhile, said she is open to leading the committee if God permits.

Sotto also affirmed that the hearings on the anomalous flood control projects will continue even if the blue ribbon committee only has an acting chairman.

“Tuloy ‘yun (that will continue). The blue ribbon, it’s always alive. That’s the only committee na may (that has) motu proprio powers eh. Now, it doesn’t mean na because nasa break o ‘yung iba is nasa (we’ll be on a break and the others will be) out of town, it doesn’t mean that the Senate is not working,” he said.

Prior to Lacson, it was Senator Rodante Marcoleta who first served as chairman of the committee under the 20th Congress.

Marcoleta initiated the motu proprio inquiry, in aid of legislation, on “The Philippines under Water” and the privilege speech of Lacson regarding the irregularities in the flood control projects in several parts of the country.

Lacson on Monday resigned as blue ribbon committee chairman, citing the dissatisfaction of other senators on the "direction" of the legislative inquiry on the alleged anomalous flood control projects for his resignation. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News