Tulfo, Ejercito decline Blue Ribbon chairmanship; 3 senators still in running

The shortlist includes Sens. Raffy Tulfo, JV Ejercito, Pia Cayetano, Kiko Pangilinan and Risa Hontiveros. Sotto said the next chair does not need to be a lawyer to lead the powerful investigative panel, which probes alleged wrongdoing in government agencies and projects.

Both Tulfo and Ejercito declined the post on Tuesday, October 7, citing other priorities and self-awareness of their limits.

Tulfo, who chairs the committees on labor, migrant workers, and public services, said he prefers to focus on his current advocacies.

“However, if offered to me, I will humbly decline for the simple reason that I don’t want to lose focus on my three committee chairmanships that are my main advocacies,” he said in a Facebook post.

Ejercito, meanwhile, expressed gratitude for being considered but said there are others more capable of leading the Blue Ribbon Committee.

“Unang una, nagpapasalamat ako sa tiwala for considering me for such a very important committee. Kaya lang alam ko limitasyon ko, mas marami ang tingin kong mas may kaya mag-lead ng committee,” he said in an ambush interview.(First of all, I’m grateful for the trust in considering me for such an important committee. However, I’m aware of my limitations, and I believe there are others who are more capable of leading the committee.)

He confirmed having informed Sotto of his decision and said any earlier friction within the chamber has since been resolved.

“Wala naman [sama ng loob]. Tingin ko sa amin wala,” Ejercito added. (We don’t hold any grudges. None.)

Ejercito had expressed frustration over how the flood control hearings were conducted, but the issue, he said, has been “cleared up.”

Majority bloc to decide next chair. Ejercito said the next Blue Ribbon chair would likely be chosen during the next majority caucus.

Other senators, however, have urged Lacson to reconsider his resignation. Pangilinan, one of the potential successors, said the last majority caucus held on October 1 already “threshed out” disagreements among members.

“I appeal to Sen. Ping to stay on as Blue Ribbon Committee chairman and appeal as well to our colleagues in the majority bloc to reaffirm our support for him to stay on even as we iron out our differences,” Pangilinan said in a post on Monday, October 6.

Lacson, however, confirmed that his decision is final. “When I say ‘No,’ it’s no. When I say ‘Yes,’ it’s yes,” he said.

Cayetano and Hontiveros have yet to issue their comments over the possible committee chairmanship.

Flood control scandal looms large. The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has been investigating the multibillion-peso flood control controversy, which allegedly involved kickbacks from public works projects.

The probe has implicated lawmakers from both chambers and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways who admitted to facilitating the delivery of kickbacks to legislators.