THE Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has begun polishing its draft committee report following consultations with the Department of Justice (DOJ), Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and the Office of the Ombudsman to assess whether the evidence on hand is sufficient to support its findings, a senator said Monday.
In an ambush interview, Sen. Erwin Tulfo said the meeting was held after the conclusion of committee hearings and was intended to align positions and clarify the direction of the draft report, which he described as still under review.
Tulfo said the discussion was like a consultation, attended only by some committee members, to determine whether there is enough evidence to justify the recommendations being considered.
Those present included Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Blue Ribbon Committee chairperson and Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Loren Legarda and Raffy Tulfo.
He said he raised concerns on whether the cases being examined are “airtight,” warning that weak cases could eventually be dismissed and would only result in wasted effort by the Senate and investigative agencies.
“Sayang kung hindi naman airtight… We’ll be wasting our time, the effort of the DOJ, Ombudsman, the Blue Ribbon, pati ang mga taong madadamay (It would be a waste if the cases are not airtight… we would be wasting our time, the effort of the DOJ, Ombudsman, Blue Ribbon, and even those who would be affected),” Tulfo said.
Tulfo clarified that the agencies did not provide firm assurances during the meeting, noting that the exchange focused on views and perspectives and that the cases are still being completed.
He said he and Legarda left the meeting early due to another engagement, while Lacson, Gatchalian and Sotto remained.
Asked whether the draft report could already secure enough signatures to be brought to the plenary, Tulfo said he has yet to read the full document, citing its length, and noted that reactions among senators have been mixed.
“May iba na hesitant… may kulang, parang malamya… yung iba naman very strong worded (Some are hesitant, saying there are gaps or that it’s weak, while others find it very strongly worded),” he said.
Tulfo added that it remains uncertain whether the report will be taken up immediately in plenary due to a packed agenda, but said it would eventually reach the floor for consideration. (PNA)
