MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday said that any hearing or investigation conducted outside the officially constituted Blue Ribbon Committee chaired by Senator Erwin Tulfo will not be recognized by the Senate.

Gatchalian stressed that corruption-related inquiries must be carried out only through a legitimate Senate forum.

“The Senate recognizes only one Blue Ribbon Committee, the one headed by Senator Erwin Tulfo. Any hearing or investigation conducted outside of this committee has no legal standing, carries no institutional authority, and will not be recognized by the Senate,” Gatchalian said in a news release.

He said efforts to expose corruption and hold accountable those involved must remain within proper institutional processes and should not be conducted through unauthorized or parallel proceedings.

Gatchalian also urged witnesses and individuals with knowledge of alleged irregularities to present their testimonies before the official Blue Ribbon Committee.

“Ang Senado ay nakatuon sa tunay na pag-imbestiga at pag-uusig ng korapsyon sa tamang paraan at sa tamang forum (The Senate is focused on genuine investigation and prosecution of corruption in the proper manner and in the proper forum),” he said.

Earlier in the day, the Blue Ribbon Committee clarified that a supposed June 16 hearing announced online by former congressman and Cabinet official Mike Defensor was not scheduled or authorized by the panel.

The committee disowned the announcement, saying it did not come from any official Senate process.