Blue Ribbon to shift focus from flood control to roads, bridges ~ HUMAN RIGHTS PROMOTIONS

Friday, August 21, 2026

Blue Ribbon to shift focus from flood control to roads, bridges

Friday, August 21, 2026 Herbert Curia - Promoter No comments

From the Website of PNA
links https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1282293

Blue Ribbon to shift focus from flood control to roads, bridges

MANILA – The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is preparing to turn its investigative spotlight

on substandard roads and bridges as it steps away from flood-control cases that will now be left largely to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Committee chair Senator Erwin Tulfo said Thursday the proposed shift is being discussed with Blue Ribbon Vice Chair Francis Pangilinan and Senator Panfilo Lacson as the panel maps out its next investigations.

“Ang plano po ng iba ng aming vice-chair na si Kiko Pangilinan at Senator Ping Lacson, imbestigahan po itong mga substandard po na mga kalsada, mga tulay (The plan of our vice chair Kiko Pangilinan and Senator Ping Lacson is to investigate these substandard roads and bridges),” he said in a radio interview.

Tulfo said flood-control controversies would instead be left to the Ombudsman to avoid duplicating investigations and delaying possible cases against public officials and other individuals found liable.

“Pagdating po sa flood control, we'll leave it to the Ombudsman na po para mas mabilis po yung pagpapanagot sa mga may kinalaman po na mga government officials natin (When it comes to flood control, we'll leave it to the Ombudsman so those government officials involved can be held accountable more quickly),” he said.

Tulfo said Blue Ribbon investigations are conducted in aid of legislation and do not result directly in criminal prosecution.

Even if the committee finds sufficient basis to recommend charges, Tulfo said its findings would still have to be forwarded to the Ombudsman, which would conduct its own proceedings.

“So humahaba lang po at tumatagal lang. What I want sana po at least kung diretso na po sa Ombudsman, may tiwala po kay Ombudsman Boying Remulla (It only makes the process longer and causes delays. What I want is for the cases to go directly to the Ombudsman. I have confidence in Ombudsman Boying Remulla),” Tulfo said.

He said the committee has already turned over documents in its possession concerning flood-control projects to the Ombudsman.

The shift also comes as Tulfo prepares to convene the Blue Ribbon Committee following the entry of Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano as a member.

Tulfo said he would meet with committee members to determine the panel's direction, with potentially defective roads and bridges emerging as its next major area of scrutiny. (PNA)

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