Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Vice Chair Senator Erwin Tulfo became the latest senator to express support for the independent investigative body to look into alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
“I think that is the right thing to do — an independent group composed of the church, academe, youth representatives, retired justices, and other sectors that should be part of it,” Tulfo said in an interview.
He argued that lawmakers have no business leading an independent probe, especially when some of them are also being linked to the flood control mess.
The senator also pointed out the possible challenge of summoning fellow legislators to the Blue Ribbon Committee hearings, as they could invoke “inter-parliamentary courtesy.”
Tulfo said that without the independent investigative body, only contractors and officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways would likely appear and be grilled during the hearings.
He added that the independent body should determine who is involved and who should face charges of plunder, graft, bribery, and other appropriate penalties — especially if the mastermind of the scheme turns out to be a legislator or public official.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will open its hearing on the flood control project mess this Monday.