MANILA — Senator Raffy Tulfo said the Senate minority bloc will not take part in the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on alleged flood control anomalies unless it is granted representation in the panel.

In a television interview, Tulfo questioned the current composition of the committee, arguing that the minority bloc has no members in the panel and is therefore unable to fully participate in proceedings, including questioning resource persons and moving to cite witnesses in contempt.

“Itong Blue Ribbon Committee na binuo nila, ‘yan ay bastardo. Because it was born out of illegitimacy. Dahil nga, ayon sa Rule 10, Section 13, Paragraph 2, dapat 17 ang members ng Blue Ribbon, eh ‘yung members nila ngayon from the chairman down is nine only, o isama na natin ‘yung mga ex-officio at the least 12. So kulang sila ng lima (This Blue Ribbon Committee they formed is illegitimate. Because under Rule 10, Section 13, Paragraph 2, the Blue Ribbon should have 17 members, but their current members from the chair down are only nine, or at least 12 if the ex-officio members are included. So they are short by five),” Tulfo said.

He said only committee members are allowed to make motions during hearings, including citing witnesses in contempt, which must also be seconded by another member.

“Wala kaming karapatan na kwestyunin ang any resource person na magsinungaling doon. We don’t have the authority or the right na para i-cite in contempt or any person na basta lang magsinungaling, magsinungaling (We have no right to question any resource person who lies there. We do not have the authority or the right to cite in contempt any person who simply lies),” he said.

Despite this, Tulfo said the minority bloc supports the continuation of the investigation into alleged flood control anomalies but insisted that both majority and minority should be properly represented in the committee.

The statement came after Blue Ribbon Committee chairperson Sen. Pia Cayetano confirmed that invitations had been issued for the continuation of the hearing scheduled on Thursday.

“The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has formally issued invitations for the hearing scheduled on Thursday as part of its ongoing inquiry into flood control projects,” Cayetano said.

“We look forward to the cooperation of all invited resource persons and agencies as the Committee carries out its mandate in aid of legislation and public accountability,” she added.

Cayetano also said the majority bloc withheld quorum as a parliamentary move to block what she described as an attempt to take over Senate committees and disrupt ongoing investigations.

In a Facebook livestream with Senator Rodante Marcoleta, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said the hearings are intended to surface new testimony and clarify alleged irregularities in flood control projects.

“As of yesterday, ang hinihingi pa lang naman namin, give the truth a chance (As of yesterday, all we were asking was to give the truth a chance),” Cayetano said.

He said witnesses would be allowed to testify under oath as part of efforts to determine the extent of alleged irregularities and ensure transparency.

Cayetano added that invitations were also sent to the Office of the Ombudsman, Department of Public Works and Highways, and Department of Budget and Management to provide information on ongoing investigations, alleged ghost projects, and public fund allocations.

Senator Rodante Marcoleta, who is expected to play a key role in the hearing, urged the public to follow the proceedings closely.

“Huwag po kayong kukurap. Baka ito na po ang pinakahuling pagkakataon na ang katotohanan, ang katwiran ay mananaig (Do not blink. This may be the last chance for truth and reason to prevail),” he said.

He added that the inquiry involves public funds and is critical to the country’s fight against corruption.

“Ang gagawin namin bukas will define the direction of this country kung saan tayo papunta (What we will do tomorrow will define the direction of this country and where we are headed),” Marcoleta said.