Senator Erwin Tulfo warned that he would order the arrest of senators who conduct Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings outside those he would preside over as the panel’s chairman.
In an interview, Tulfo insisted that he is the legitimate chairperson of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and has the sole authority to call legislative inquiries under the panel.
His remarks came after a Senate Blue Ribbon hearing was held on Thursday by the bloc led by Alan Peter Cayetano, with Pia Cayetano and Rodante Marcoleta presiding over the proceedings.
The hearing featured 18 former Marines who allegedly worked for former Zaldy Co and claimed they had delivered suitcases containing cash to politicians.
“Kung sila, uulitin po nilang mag-hearing; subukan po nila. Lalo na po yung Blue Ribbon, subukan. Subukan po ninyo, mag-hearing po kayo ng Blue Ribbon, kasi po hindi na po ako papayag na maghi-hearing-hearingan kayo diyan at I will have you arrested. I promise,” Tulfo said.
He further warned that even former Senate presidents and House speakers would not be exempt from his actions, asserting that he would personally remove anyone conducting what he described as unauthorized hearings.
Tulfo belongs to the Senate bloc led by Sherwin Gatchalian, who was elected Senate President Pro Tempore and designated acting Senate President by 12 senators on Wednesday after the Cayetano-led bloc skipped sessions earlier in the week following the arrest of Jinggoy Estrada.
Alan Peter Cayetano earlier said their group boycotted the sessions to prevent the opposing bloc from taking control of Blue Ribbon investigations. He also questioned Gatchalian’s authority as acting Senate President, arguing that the other camp lacked the required votes to effect a leadership change.
When he presided over Wednesday’s session, Gatchalian cited the Supreme Court ruling in the historic Avelino v. Cuenco, which upheld a quorum of 12 senators.
Tulfo described Thursday’s hearing as a “blatant disregard” of the acting Senate President’s directive and a violation of Senate rules. He added that those who participated in the hearing could face ethics complaints.
Tulfo and Vicente Sotto III were among the lawmakers named by the former Marines as recipients of cash deliveries. Both denied the allegations, with Sotto noting that the aide identified by the witnesses had died in 2015.
The senator also said he is preparing to file libel complaints against the individuals who accused him and other lawmakers of receiving money-filled suitcases, maintaining that the allegations were politically motivated and unsupported by evidence.
Tulfo, who serves as Blue Ribbon chairperson under the Gatchalian-led bloc, has scheduled a committee hearing on June 8 and invited the former Marines to testify. He said the panel would not allow surprise witnesses and would subject all resource persons to a vetting process in accordance with committee rules.
Asked about the possible motive behind the allegations, Tulfo pointed to politics. He noted that Senators Loren Legarda and Mark Villar, both members of the Cayetano bloc, were initially named in earlier accusations but were no longer mentioned during the June 4 event.
He claimed that he and other senators were being targeted because they were viewed as political threats, particularly amid speculation about future electoral plans involving him and his brother.
