Erwin Tulfo to inhibit in Senate Blue Ribbon flood control probe

Senator Erwin Tulfo on Monday said he will inhibit from the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s inquiry into alleged anomalous flood control projects.

Tulfo, chairperson of the Gatchalian-led Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, made the statement after the 18 alleged bagmen of resigned Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co implicated him in the flood control controversy during the June 3 meeting led by senators belonging to the Cayetano bloc.

“Definitely, ‘yung sinasabi nila mag-i-inhibit, definitely mag-i-inhibit ako. Plano ko nga sana ‘yan, kaso meeting pa lang ito. Kapag sa proper hearing, I will announce I will inhibit,” the senator said in a chance interview.

(Definitely, what they are saying that I will inhibit—I will definitely inhibit. That was actually my plan, but this is just a meeting. In the proper hearing, I will announce that I will inhibit.)

“I will give the floor to the vice chair, or magtatayo kami ng subcommittee. Pag-uusapan din ‘yan sa floor. I will let Senator Kiko [Pangilinan] handle this flood control inquiry,” he added.

(I will give the floor to the vice chair, or we will form a subcommittee. That will also be discussed on the floor. I will let Senator Kiko [Pangilinan] handle this flood control inquiry.)

Last week, the bloc led by Senator Pia Cayetano conducted its own separate probe into the flood control projects.

Meanwhile, the Gatchalian-led bloc on Monday held a “consultative meeting” to reorganize and fully constitute the panel.

Among those invited were 18 individuals who claimed to be former Philippine Marine Corps personnel and allegedly acted as couriers for kickbacks in government projects, along with their legal counsel, Atty. Levi Baligod.

The resource persons appeared at the Senate but did not participate in the Tulfo-led meeting, instead staying at the Office of Senator Robinhood Padilla to hold a press conference.

Tulfo subsequently suspended the meeting “until further notice.”—MCG, GMA News