MANILA — Senator Erwin Tulfo said that individuals who appeared during the flood control forum organized by the Cayetano bloc would be invited to attend the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s hearing scheduled on Monday.

Tulfo, who recently assumed the chairmanship of the Blue Ribbon Committee, said the hearing was reset to Monday to maintain order and give all senators, including Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and his allies, the chance to take part in the proceedings.

“’Yung lahat ng imbitahan nila, iimbitahan namin. Pati mga Marines, pati sila Speaker Martin Romualdez (We will invite all those they invited. Even the Marines, even [former House of Representatives] Speaker Martin Romualdez),” Tulfo said in an interview on Bilyonaryo News Channel.

He said all senators would be treated as committee members during the hearing, enabling them to raise questions and suggest additional resource persons.

Tulfo also disputed claims that Thursday’s activity was an official Blue Ribbon investigation, saying it did not have the committee’s authorization.

“I just want to correct that. There was no inquiry. It was a press conference. It was a forum,” he said.

According to Tulfo, the official hearing had already been moved to Monday and Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian had earlier declared that no hearing would take place on Thursday.

He added that the forum would not be considered part of the official Senate record because it lacked the personnel necessary to conduct and document a formal committee hearing.

“No, kasi walang tao eh. Sila-sila lang. Ang talagang target nila, nag-imbita sila ng media na kukunan sila ng media mainstream (No, because there were no staff members. It was just them. Their real target was to invite the media so mainstream media would cover them),” he said when asked whether the activity would be included in the Senate record.

Tulfo said members of the Cayetano bloc would still have an opportunity to question the same resource persons during Monday’s official hearing.

“Nasa sa kanila na yun. I mean, if they will not attend, sayang yung opportunity na magtanong sila (It is up to them. If they will not attend, it would be a wasted opportunity for them to ask questions),” Tulfo said.

He also said the committee would no longer allow “surprise witnesses,” stressing that all committee members should be informed beforehand about the individuals scheduled to appear before the panel.

Tulfo warned invited resource persons that failure to attend without a valid reason could result in contempt proceedings.

“We will invite them. As a matter of fact, I’m warning them. I’m compelling them to attend, otherwise the Blue Ribbon will file contempt charges,” he said.

The senator said the committee is considering holding a second hearing later this month to hear from additional resource persons who were not included in the initial invitations.

Asked whether former Presidential Legislative Liaison Office chief Adrian Bersamin, former Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, and former Education Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar would also be invited, Tulfo said they may be included in the next round of hearings.

“Siguro sa next, towards end of the month, ang June, may second hearing ang Blue Ribbon. (Maybe in the next [round], toward the end of June, the Blue Ribbon will have a second hearing.) Of course, we want to hear from them),” he said.