On Wednesday, June 3, senators issued conflicting directives regarding the resumption of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing into the flood control scandal.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano insisted that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee's scheduled hearing on the flood control scandal on June 4 will push through, despite an announcement by newly elected committee chairperson Senator Erwin Tulfo that the inquiry had been moved to June 8.
“Let's all reflect on this and pray. But tomorrow, the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing will push through,“ Cayetano said in a Facebook Live on June 3 evening.
The inquiry is set to hear testimony from the 18 supposed former Marines, who claim they helped transport suitcases containing alleged kickbacks intended for administration allies.
“Tomorrow, tuloy ang hearing ng Blue Ribbon Committee. We have to hear the testimonies,” Cayetano said.
Cayetano maintained that he remains the legitimate leader of the Senate amid an ongoing leadership dispute within the chamber.
"I am still the legitimate, legal, moral Senate President of the Republic of the Philippines," he said. "There is still functioning committees. We have to hear the testimonies."
Cayetano also issued a memorandum directing Senate officials and personnel that the June 4 hearing of the Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations, commonly known as the Blue Ribbon Committee, would proceed as originally scheduled.
The committee is chaired by his sister, Senator Pia Cayetano.
The Senate President argued that the recent reorganization of the Senate leadership and committee assignments was intended to halt the ongoing investigation into the alleged flood control anomalies.
According to Cayetano, the changes were not meant to improve legislative operations or resolve the chamber's recent deadlock but were designed to prevent the continuation of Blue Ribbon Committee hearings.
He further claimed that the election of a new Senate President Pro Tempore during Wednesday's session was invalid, arguing that only 12 senators were present and that the number did not constitute a quorum.
"Ang ginawang pagpapalit ng Senate President Pro Tempore kanina sa sesyon ay maituturing na illegal dahil 12 lang ang mga miyembro ng senador na pumunta rito, bagay na hindi maituturing na quorum," he said.
Cayetano also called on supporters to gather at the Senate on Thursday for prayers and a possible prayer vigil.
"So sa ating mga kababayan who wants to pray or have a prayer vigil sa Senado bukas, pumunta po kayo. Pag hindi po kami pinapasok... sama-sama na po tayo outside the kulambo," he said.
He warned that preventing what he described as the Senate's legitimate leadership from performing its duties would amount to disregarding the Constitution.
"This is an illegal coup d'état na may kasamang pagbabasura ng ating Konstitusyon. I warned everyone about this from day one," he said during a Facebook Live.
“So dose pa rin po ngayon ay pang-oonse pa rin po. Sa ating Konstitusyon, sa ating Rules of the Senate, kailangan pong trese. 'Di po kami nagpipilit sa kapangyarihan. I can go as Senate President even as senator anytime,” he added.
Earlier, Senator Erwin Tulfo announced that the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the flood control controversy would be rescheduled to Monday, June 8, to allow members of the committee more time to prepare.
"There will be a Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Monday. We are just moving the scheduled date from tomorrow to prepare all members," Tulfo said during a press conference.
Tulfo also stated that all senators, whether from the majority or minority bloc, would be considered members of the Blue Ribbon Committee under the new setup.
The dispute comes after the Senate resumed session following two days of inaction and declared all leadership positions vacant, triggering a reorganization that has deepened divisions within the chamber.
Senate President Pro Tempore Win Gatchalian has ordered the implementation of a work-from-home arrangement for Senate offices on Thursday, June 4.
“In light of these developments and to preserve the neutrality of the Senate bureaucracy, all Senate Secretariat and Senate Proper offices are hereby authorized to work from home on the said date,” the notice stated.
As of Wednesday night, uncertainty remained over whether the June 4 hearing would proceed as scheduled amid conflicting directives from Senate leaders.
