Fairer Senate Blue Ribbon with new rules, assures incoming chair

Tolentino explained that the referral to prosecute needs to be signed by the committee chairperson and approved by the Senate President before sending it to court. (File photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – The incoming chair of the Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations, otherwise known as the Blue Ribbon Committee, will be improved with new rules.

Senator Francis Tolentino, the presumptive committee chair in the 19th Congress, said Friday that among the new rules are separation of detention and commitment orders; process of preliminary determination; referral to prosecute; and establishment of the Blue Ribbon General Counsel.

“’Yung (The) preliminary determination, ibig sabihin, bago po isalang ay magkakaroon po ng set ng committee para i-determine kung meron bang substantial likelihood na dapat mag-proceed (It means, before being summoned, there will be a committee to determine if there is a substantial likelihood to proceed), merong (if there is) probable cause, etc.,” Tolentino said in an interview with a news program.

Tolentino explained that the referral to prosecute needs to be signed by the committee chairperson and approved by the Senate President before sending it to court.

The Blue Ribbon General Counsel will focus on speedy prosecution.

“Isa po itong mataas na posisyon. Siguro kukuha po tayo dito ng isang retired justice na hahawak nito para nang sa ganun po eh tuloy-tuloy po yung pag-aaral ng pag-prosecute (This is a high position. Maybe we’ll get a retired justice for this so that the study and prosecution will be continuous),” Tolentino said.

Tolentino said the rules have been stagnant for quite a while now and they deemed upgrades are needed.

He vowed to be fair in the conduct of hearings which he said will strictly adhere to the rule of law.

In a recent interview, presumptive Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri confirmed that the Senate “super majority” have decided on Tolentino to head the Blue Ribbon committee, despite the pronouncement of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano that he would join the minority instead if he won’t be picked to head the committee.

In a statement on Thursday, Cayetano said Tolentino is an excellent choice.

“I fully support his chairmanship of this vital committee. I pray that he will do all he can to make this government truly accountable to the people,” he said.

Cayetano said he is still weighing his options on whether to join the majority or the minority.

“Sinasabi ko nga na lahat naman qualified. Kahit po si Senator Cayetano, kwalipikado po siya (I am saying that all are qualified) as a former Speaker of the House. Nagpapasalamat din nga pala ako sa pagsuportang ibinigay niya (I thank him for the support he gave me),” Tolentino said.