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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Raffy Tulfo calls current Blue Ribbon committee a 'bastard' panel; here's why

Raffy Tulfo calls current Blue Ribbon committee a 'bastard' panel; here's why

Published Jun 3, 2026 12:54 pm  |  Updated Jun 3, 2026 01:51 pm
Senator Raffy Tulfo on Wednesday, June 3, questioned the legitimacy of the current Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which he described it as a "bastard" panel due to what he claimed was an insufficient number of members under existing rules.
Minority senators deliver a joint statement during a press conference at the Senate Plenary Hall in Pasay City on June 2, 2026, following the absence of majority senators during the scheduled session. The minority bloc called on Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano to step down from his post and urged members of the majority bloc who remain committed to public service to attend the plenary session scheduled for Wednesday. (Mark Balmores)
Minority senators deliver a joint statement during a press conference at the Senate Plenary Hall in Pasay City on June 2, 2026, following the absence of majority senators during the scheduled session. The minority bloc called on Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano to step down from his post and urged members of the majority bloc who remain committed to public service to attend the plenary session scheduled for Wednesday. (Mark Balmores)
During an interview on Balitanghali, Tulfo said the minority bloc supports the continuation of Blue Ribbon investigations but raised concerns over the committee's composition. This is amid Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano's claim on Tuesday, June 2, that members of the minority bloc had planned to remove key committees from the majority bloc.
However, he argued that the committee was improperly constituted.
"Para sa akin, pardon my word, yung Blue Ribbon Committee na binuo nila, yan ay bastardo (For me, pardon my word, that Blue Ribbon Committee they formed, is a bastard) because it was born out of illegitimacy," Tulfo said.
Citing Rule 10, Section 13, Paragraph 2 of the Senate rules, Tulfo claimed the Blue Ribbon Committee should have 17 members. He said the current committee has only 9 members, or at most 12 if ex officio members are included.
"So illegitimate yan. Bastardo yan (So that's illegitimate. It's a bastard)," he added.
Tulfo also said the absence of minority representatives in the committee would prevent them from exercising oversight during hearings.
According to the senator, only committee members can question resource persons and initiate motions to cite witnesses in contempt.
"So therefore, wala kaming karapatan na kuwestyonin ang any resource person na magsinungaling doon (So therefore, we have no right to question any resource person who will lie there)," he said.
He added that without minority participation, the majority bloc could potentially dominate proceedings and shape the narrative emerging from committee hearings.
"Pwede nilang maniubrahin yung hearing dyan sa Blue Ribbon because walang members minority (They can maneuver that Blue Ribbon hearing because there's no minority members)," Tulfo said.
Asked whether the minority bloc would challenge any hearing conducted by the committee, Tulfo reiterated his position that the body lacks legitimacy.
Tulfo said it would ultimately be up to the public to judge how the committee conducts its hearings should they proceed without minority representation.

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