HAPPENING NOW: Erwin Tulfo holds Blue Ribbon hearing into flood control scandal — ANC

[0:00] Good morning. The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee continues its probe into the flood control scandal. Let's go there live. [0:05] By Senate Pro Tempore and Acting Senate President Sherwin Gachalian, to be clear, we will be asking for updates from the executive agencies. [0:15] As we proceed, this committee must likewise address the circumstances surrounding the June 4 press conference held in the session hall. [0:23] That press conference was presented to the public as a Blue Ribbon Committee proceeding, despite having no authorization, from the duly recognized chairman of the committee or from the office of the acting Senate president. [0:40] It was conducted outside established Senate rules and institutional processes. [0:45] Simply put, it was not a legitimate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing. It was irregular, a how-show, as you may want to call it, a make-believe investigation. [0:56] Masquerading as an official Senate proceeding. [0:58] Sa sinagawang ilihiti mong pagdinig, muling naungkat ang mga testimony ng labing walong maleta boys. [1:07] Kaugnay sa diyo muna yung milyon-milyong kickback mula sa flood control projects na dinilever daw nila sa ilang mga opisyal, kabilang na po sa inyong lingkod at maging sa isang pare. [1:20] Ito po ay walang basihan, walang katotohanan, ni walang naipresentan dokumento, resibo o anumang konkretong patunay, kundi puro salita lamang. [1:35] Madali pong magturo, madaling gumawa ng kwento at napakadaling manira na reputasyon. [1:41] Kaya tungkulin po ng Blue Ribbon Committee ay natiyakin ang bawat aligasyon ay nakabatay sa matibay na ebidensya at mapagkatiwala ang testimonya. [1:54] Hindi po tayo papayag na basta na lamang may darating po dito sa komite na ito para maglahad na kung ano-ano nawala naman po mga ebidensya. [2:03] O mga testigo na bigla na lamang pong susulpot, kinabukasan na hindi na po mahagilap. [2:11] Hindi tayo narito upang magbigay ng hatol batay lamang po sa mga haka-haka. [2:16] Narito tayo upang alamin ang katotohanan. [2:20] At this juncture, please allow me to acknowledge the presence of my esteemed colleagues, [2:25] Senators Kiko Pangilinan, our Vice Chairperson, [2:29] our Acting Senate President, Senate Pro Tempore Wien Gachalian, [2:37] and my colleague, Senator Rafi Tulfo. [2:41] Thank you for coming today. [2:44] Before we proceed, let us pause for a minute of silent prayer for our kababayan si Mindanao. [2:52] Meron pong 7.8 na lindol na tumama po doon kanikanina lamang. [2:56] Nais ko rin pong gamitin pong pagkakataon na ito upang batiin pong isa nating kababayan si Alex Siala [3:37] for winning the Birmingham Tennis Championship sa United Kingdom. [3:42] Congratulations po. [3:44] At this juncture, please allow me to acknowledge the presence of my at may I now request the Blue Ribbon Committee, [3:51] Secretary, to acknowledge our resource persons for today. [3:55] Committee, SEC. [3:56] The following resource persons are present from the Department of Public Works and Highways, [4:05] Undersecretary Ricardo Bernabe III, [4:08] Undersecretary Arthur Bisnar, [4:12] from the Department of Justice, [4:14] Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadulion, [4:18] Undersecretary Nicholas T., [4:20] Assistant Secretary Joey Bernardes, [4:24] from the Department of Budget and Management, [4:26] Assistant Secretary Andrea Selin Magtalas, [4:29] From the Office of the Ombudsman, [4:32] Attorney Karen Batu, [4:34] Attorney Jeffrey Ravello, [4:36] from the National Bureau of Investigation, [4:38] Director Melvin Matibag. [4:41] That's all your honor. [4:46] KOMSEC, may we know, [4:48] did we invite other guests? [4:50] Can you mention those who did not show up today, [4:53] despite the fact that we sent notices to them last Wednesday afternoon? [5:02] We invited Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, [5:06] Representative Sia Alonto Adyong, [5:08] Representative Jose Alvarez, [5:10] Representative Julian Jam Baronda, [5:13] Representative Laila De Lima, [5:15] through Speaker D. [5:17] The reason for their absence, [5:27] Attorney Celoy Velicaria Garafil said that the House of Recep... [5:35] Wait, sorry, sir. [5:38] They sent a letter respectfully declining the invitation [5:41] on the grounds of parliamentary courtesy. [5:46] Okay, what about the 18 bodyguards, [5:52] KOMSEC? [5:54] Did we invite them? [5:55] Yes, we invited them, [5:57] but we have not received any reply. [6:00] What about Attorney Baligot? [6:04] Did we invite them? [6:06] Yes, Your Honor, we invited, [6:07] but we have not received any reply. [6:09] What about former Congressman Mike Defensor? [6:13] Did we invite him? [6:15] We did not invite former Congressman Mike Defensor. [6:20] Okay, KOMSEC. [6:21] So, with that, [6:23] we now allow our fellow senators [6:28] to deliver their opening statements, [6:30] if they have any.