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Gatchalian: Unauthorized Senate hearings carry zero authority

Philippines | National

Gatchalian: Unauthorized Senate hearings carry zero authority

By Hannah L. Torregoza

At A Glance

Acting Senate President and Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian warned that any hearing or investigation to be conducted outside of the domain of the duly constituted Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will not carry any legal weight or institutional authority.

Acting Senate President and Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian warned on Monday, June 15 that any hearing or investigation to be conducted outside of the domain of the duly constituted Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will not carry any legal weight or institutional authority.

Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian (Facebook)

Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian (Facebook)

Gatchalian issued the statement following reports that the camp of former congressman Mike Defensor has scheduled a blue ribbon committee investigation into the flood control mess.

“The Senate recognizes only one Blue Ribbon Committee, the one headed by Senator Erwin Tulfo,” Gatchalian said.

“Any hearing or investigation conducted outside of this committee has no legal standing, carries no institutional authority, and will not be recognized by the Senate,” he further said.

Gatchalian explained that the work of exposing corruption and holding wrongdoers accountable is serious business and deserves a proper, legitimate, and duly constituted forum.

In this vein, he reiterated his call for all witnesses and resource persons to come forward and testify before official Blue Ribbon committee.

“Ang Senado ay nakatuon sa tunay na pag-imbestiga at pag-uusig ng korapsyon sa tamang paraan at sa tamang forum. Iyon ang aming pangako sa sambayanang Pilipino (The Senate is committed to truly investigating and prosecuting corruption in the right way and in the right forum. That is our promise to the Filipino people),” Gatchalian said.

Related Tags

Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Sherwin Gatchalian flood control probe Senate probe

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