Tulfo seeks consensus on flood hearing revival

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s planned revival of its investigation into the alleged flood control corruption scandal will depend on the consensus of senators once the panel is formally reconstituted, committee chairman Senator Erwin Tulfo said Sunday.

Tulfo said he intends to convene the committee as soon as its membership is finalized to determine whether the probe should resume or give way to the Ombudsman’s ongoing investigation.

“I need to convene the Blue Ribbon Committee immediately so we can discuss what direction to take. Should we still pursue this? It seems it could amount to double jeopardy,” Tulfo said in Filipino during a radio interview.

The panel had earlier announced plans to reopen the stalled inquiry this week, but the lack of finalized committee members has delayed the move.

Tulfo said he was reluctant to hold another hearing if it would merely duplicate issues already under investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman.

“The Ombudsman is already conducting an investigation. We at the Blue Ribbon Committee also have our own investigation. So there are two separate probes. What is the point?” he said.

He added that the committee would proceed only if senators agree and new developments warrant another inquiry.

Ping-Alan war

The issue resurfaced after Sen. Panfilo Lacson submitted to the Ombudsman evidence he said supported possible plunder, graft and malversation charges over allegedly anomalous flood control projects, including purported “ghost” projects in Taguig.