Senator Erwin Tulfo is taking over as acting chairperson of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee following the resignation of Senator Panfilo Lacson.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday confirmed that Tulfo, currently the panel’s vice chair, would automatically assume the position, as none of the initial five nominees accepted the role yet.
Sotto said Tulfo’s background in investigative journalism and his reputation for being fearless would be valuable assets in leading the powerful committee.
The Senate leadership had initially considered Senators Raffy Tulfo, JV Ejercito, Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan, Pia Cayetano, and Risa Hontiveros to replace Lacson.
However, both Raffy Tulfo and Pangilinan declined, citing their existing chairmanships and ongoing legislative work.
Ejercito, for his part, said he preferred someone with stronger qualifications to take over the position.
Cayetano and Hontiveros have yet to issue official statements regarding their inclusion in the shortlist.
Sotto said the decision on who will officially head the committee is expected to be finalized during the majority bloc’s caucus this week.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said the minority will not interfere with the majority’s selection process, but remains open to discussions should the position be offered to them.
“It’s possible for the minority, but I don’t want to be presumptuous. If they offer it to the minority, we will discuss it,” he said.
Lacson resigned from his post earlier this week after several senators criticized the Blue Ribbon Committee’s ongoing investigation into alleged corruption in flood control projects.
He said his decision to step down was final and made out of respect for the institution and his fellow lawmakers.