The Blue Ribbon
Published Aug 27, 2022 12:05 am
TOL VIEWS
Senator Francis N. Tolentino
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, otherwise known as the “Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations,” is the Senate committee tasked to investigate alleged wrongdoings of the government, its officials, and its attached agencies, including government owned and controlled corporations.
According to Article VI, Section 21 of the 1987 Constitution, the committee’s purpose is to pursue its inquiries in aid of legislation in accordance with its duly published rules of procedure. The rights of persons appearing in or affected by such inquiries shall be respected — and that we will do.
When the committee conducts an investigation, there are two possible outcomes: (1) the committee may come up with recommendations to amend relevant and existing laws; or (2) recommend the filing of the necessary charges against the officers found to be in violation of existing laws.
The Senate Blue Ribbon has its origins in 1949 during which then Cavite Representative Justiniano Montano of the Liberal Party formed a group of Senators from the same party and began to look into the propriety of the activities of then President Elpidio Quirino. Former President Quirino was also under the Liberal Party.
Here, we see that the birth of this great committee transcends party affiliation, partisanship, and political beliefs all in the pursuit of public accountability and public interest. This Committee, though named "blue," sees no color politics and instead operates independently and objectively in black and white. This, we’ve continued and will continue.
This week, the Blue Ribbon started its inquiries on the importation of sugar by the Sugar Regulatory Administration last Tuesday, Aug. 23, and the alleged "overpriced" and "outdated" DepEd laptops purchased for our public school teachers last Thursday, Aug. 25.
As I have proven and emphasized in the hearings conducted this week, we will respect the rights of the witnesses and the rights of the resource persons. We bear in mind our constitutional duty and that is, to prevent abuses and to pass the proper remedial legislation but with a known standard of proof.
Senator Francis N. Tolentino
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, otherwise known as the “Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations,” is the Senate committee tasked to investigate alleged wrongdoings of the government, its officials, and its attached agencies, including government owned and controlled corporations.
According to Article VI, Section 21 of the 1987 Constitution, the committee’s purpose is to pursue its inquiries in aid of legislation in accordance with its duly published rules of procedure. The rights of persons appearing in or affected by such inquiries shall be respected — and that we will do.
When the committee conducts an investigation, there are two possible outcomes: (1) the committee may come up with recommendations to amend relevant and existing laws; or (2) recommend the filing of the necessary charges against the officers found to be in violation of existing laws.
The Senate Blue Ribbon has its origins in 1949 during which then Cavite Representative Justiniano Montano of the Liberal Party formed a group of Senators from the same party and began to look into the propriety of the activities of then President Elpidio Quirino. Former President Quirino was also under the Liberal Party.
Here, we see that the birth of this great committee transcends party affiliation, partisanship, and political beliefs all in the pursuit of public accountability and public interest. This Committee, though named "blue," sees no color politics and instead operates independently and objectively in black and white. This, we’ve continued and will continue.
This week, the Blue Ribbon started its inquiries on the importation of sugar by the Sugar Regulatory Administration last Tuesday, Aug. 23, and the alleged "overpriced" and "outdated" DepEd laptops purchased for our public school teachers last Thursday, Aug. 25.
As I have proven and emphasized in the hearings conducted this week, we will respect the rights of the witnesses and the rights of the resource persons. We bear in mind our constitutional duty and that is, to prevent abuses and to pass the proper remedial legislation but with a known standard of proof.