By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Sen. Erwin Tulfo on Friday brushed aside accusations made by Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, assuring the public that the chamber’s investigation into the alleged irregularities involving government flood-control projects will proceed once the committee formally resumes its work.
Speaking in a radio interview, Tulfo shrugged off Cayetano’s criticisms and even referred to him as “Boy Banat,” saying the minority leader should refrain from making premature conclusions and simply wait for the Senate inquiry to begin.
Tulfo stressed that the Blue Ribbon Committee has not abandoned the issue, explaining that preparations for the investigation are underway and that hearings will commence after the opening of the regular legislative session following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address.
He maintained that the committee remains committed to examining the alleged misuse of public funds intended for flood-control projects and vowed that the inquiry would move forward regardless of political criticism.
Tulfo issued the statement after Cayetano alleged during a Facebook Live broadcast that Tulfo, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, and other senators involved in the planned investigation were supposedly acting at the behest of Malacañang.
Cayetano also floated the idea of supporting the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) probe into the alleged procurement irregularities surrounding the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, provided that the Senate minority would also be allowed to pursue an investigation into the controversial flood-control projects.
Responding to the proposal, Tulfo said there was no need for any conditions or political bargaining, emphasizing that the Blue Ribbon Committee had already committed to conducting the flood-control investigation.
He likewise rejected claims that the Senate had sidelined the issue because of the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
According to Tulfo, the impeachment proceedings naturally take precedence because they are constitutionally mandated and require the use of the Senate session hall, making it impractical to simultaneously conduct committee hearings.
Tulfo also questioned whether Cayetano’s statements were intended to delay the impeachment trial by creating additional political controversy.
The exchange comes after Cayetano argued during the impeachment proceedings that the NBI’s decision to investigate the 2019 SEA Games—an event he previously chaired—could be viewed as an attempt to pressure or intimidate the impeachment court, especially since NBI Director Melvin Matibag is expected to testify in the trial.
Malacañang has rejected that assertion, insisting that the NBI’s investigation is part of the bureau’s independent law enforcement mandate and bears no connection to the impeachment proceedings.
For his part, Matibag has maintained that the bureau will continue performing its investigative functions regardless of his participation as a witness before the impeachment court.
ia/xf
