The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is still searching for its next chair, with most of the five senators eyed by Senate President Tito Sotto having already declined. Sen. Pia Cayetano, however, remains open to the possibility of leading the panel, saying she would ‘pray about it’ while Congress is on recess.
In an ambush interview on Wednesday, October 8, Cayetano said she is currently struggling to decide whether or not to take up the offer of leading the Blue Ribbon committee, given that she already holds two to three other major committees.
“Mabigat na trabaho na ‘yun. I already have two other committees, so I will use this time na walang session to pray about it and to think about it kung mahahandle ko siya – kasi kaya ko,” she said.
(That’s already a heavy responsibility. I’m handling two other committees, so I’ll use this session break to pray and think about whether I can handle it – because I know I can.)
Sotto also announced on Wednesday that Sen. Erwin Tulfo, who was not among the five senators initially considered to succeed Lacson, would temporarily serve as chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee since he was appointed vice chair.
Three senators have already declined, including Sens. Raffy Tulfo, JV Ejercito and Kiko Pangilinan. The only remaining senator who has yet to issue a statement on the chairmanship was Sen. Risa Honitveros, although Sotto confirmed in an interview that all five have already declined “for now.”
Cayetano, however, said it is only appropriate that she consider taking the committee chairmanship because it’s her job to do so, factoring in the weight the panel carries.
“Twenty-four lang naman kami and then lima lang kaming abogado. So gustuhin ko man o hindi, it’s my job to consider it if there is a need to chair the Committee on Blue Ribbon,” Cayetano said.
(There are only 24 of us, and only five are lawyers. So whether I like it or not, it’s my job to consider it if there’s a need to chair the Blue Ribbon Committee.)
The four-term senator said she maintains a “professional but easygoing” relationship with Sotto, a fellow veteran lawmaker and her slate mate under the admin’s ticket in the 2025 midterm elections. She added that they merely chatted about the possibility of her chairing the committee during the majority bloc’s caucus on Wednesday.
Cayetano currently heads the Senate committees on energy, ways and means, and sustainable development goals in the 20th Congress.
While she mulls over the chairmanship, Cayetano expressed confidence in her ability to lead the Blue Ribbon Committee, which investigates alleged government wrongdoing and has the authority to launch motu proprio inquiries.
“Wala akong doubt na kaya ko. Wala akong doubt that I can do a good job, [but] with all humility naman,” she added. (I have no doubt that I can do it. I have no doubt that I can do a good job, but I say that with all humility.)
For her, it is crucial for the “best person” to be appointed as committee chair because it is a “defining moment for the Filipino people.” Thousands of Filipinos have been watching the Senate’s flood control hearings closely, especially as it remains the only probe ongoing and made public.
The House Infra Comm already suspended its hearings indefinitely after holding two to give way to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) of the executive branch. This comes as multiple members of Congress, including senators, have been implicated in the kickback scheme tied to infrastructure projects and alleged budget insertions.
The ICI’s hearings, however, have been kept behind closed doors to avoid turning it into a “trial by publicity,” its executive director, Biran Hosaka, said.