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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Cayetano-led bloc pushes through with Blue Ribbon probe on flood control anomalies

Cayetano-led bloc pushes through with Blue Ribbon probe on flood control anomalies

Published Jun 4, 2026 12:07 pm  |  Updated Jun 4, 2026 03:13 pm

At A Glance

  • Asserting that he is still the legitimate Senate president, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, in his opening statement, announced that the hearing would proceed as scheduled and vowed to ensure access to the Senate's session hall.

Senators aligned with Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday, June 4 proceeded with the hearing on the flood control scandal despite repeated pronouncements by Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian that there would be no hearings today. 

Asserting that he is still the legitimate Senate president, Cayetano, in his opening statement, announced that the hearing would proceed as scheduled and vowed to ensure access to the Senate’s session hall. 

Sen. Pia Cayetano headed the Blue Ribbon Committee but on Wednesday, Sen. Erwin Tulfo was elected as the panel’s head after 12 senators moved to elect Gatchalian as the Senate President Pro Tempore and acting Senate President.

Aside from the two Cayetanos, Senators Imee Marcos, Rodante Marcoleta and Robinhood Padilla were also present during the hearing. The group showed up after being absent for three consecutive session days.

Prior to the start of Cayetano’s hearing, Gatchalian, in a press briefing at the Senate, announced that there would be no official hearings on Thursday, June 4 and that no resource persons allowed in the Senate. He said Sen. Erwin Tulfo has scheduled the continuation of the blue ribbon probe on the flood control scandal next week June 8.

But even while speaking, some Senate staff were seen setting up the chairs and tables at the session hall in preparation for Cayetano’s hearing.

Gatchalian also announced and recognized the presence of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla at the premises saying he requested the latter’s help in securing security and maintaining order in the Senate. 

He also disputed allegations they attempted to stop the investigation into the flood control probe saying it is very clear that it will continue, as promised by the new Blue Ribbon Committee chairman.

“There is no attempt (to derail). The blue ribbon hearing will continue, that’s very clear. Sen. Erwin Tulfo will continue it,” he said.

In an interview Wednesday night, Tulfo said they are moving the schedule from Thursday to Monday next week to prepare all the members.

Tulfo said they have to review the invited resource persons in the list prepared by Cayetano, who earlier invited former Speaker Rep. Martin Romualdez and the 18 supposed ex-Marine soldiers and their lawyer Levito Baligod to the hearing to shed light on the alleged corruption payoffs.

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