Senator Francis Tolentino will adopt new rules for the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee once he officially becomes its chairman in the forthcoming 19th Congress, which will begin on July 25.
Tolentino said the rules would ensure orderly committee hearings and would.respect the rights of persons appearing before the committee.
One such rule is a preliminary investigation on the resolution of a senator seeking a probe before a public hearing is to be conducted.
Tolentino pointed out that the Senate investigation would be ‘’time-bound.’
Another rule is for a clearer definition of the committee’s commitment order and detention order when it decides to cite a person in contempt and to have such person detained.
A permanent general counsel of the committee will also be appointed.
Tolentino said the committee would have a ‘’referral to prosecute’’ rule, which is the committee report’s decision to refer its recommendation to a government agency to prosecute a certain person or persons.
Senate President Pro Tempore Juan Miguel Zubiri, the incoming Senate President, earlier said that Tolentino would most likely be voted as chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee because as per the decision of the Senate majority bloc.