Sen. Pia Cayetano is considering the chairmanship of the Senate’s powerful Blue Ribbon committee, adding that she will use the time during session break to ‘pray’ and ‘think’ about her decision.
Speaking to reporters in a press conference on Wednesday, Cayetano said it’s not easy to say yes to such a position, but because her name was ‘mentioned’ among possible successors to Sen. Panfilo Lacson,who earlier resigned from his post as the panel chair, she said it’s her job to consider it.
‘Whether I like it or not, it’s my job to consider it if there’s a need to chair the blue ribbon,’ said Cayetano.
‘Having said that, that job is heavy. I already have two other committees so I will use this time during session break to pray about it and think about it if I can handle it because I know I can. I have no doubt that I can do it. I have no doubt that I can do a good job with all humility,’ she added.
According to her, she wants the best person to handle the job because it is a ‘defining moment for the Filipino people.’
In fact, Cayetano said she told Senate President Vicente Sotto III about her decision to contemplate and pray about the offer during session break. She said the Senate chief agreed that there’s a need to pray about it.
Meanwhile, Cayetano said there’s no rush in deciding who the next blue ribbon chairperson will be since there is a vice chairperson who can take charge when the head is unavailable or in this case, resigned.
‘The vice chairperson can take charge so there is no urgency to appoint a permanent or new chairperson,’ she said.
Later, she said she admitted that she does not want to give up any of her committee if ever she takes up the Blue Ribbon panel. At present, Cayetano chairs the following panels:
Committee on energy
Committee on sustainable development goals, innovation and futures thinking
Committee on ways and means
Sen. Erwin Tulfo was earlier designated as the action chairperson of the Blue Ribbon panel.
In a separate statement also issued Wednesday, he said he is thankful for Sotto and his colleagues’ trust.
‘I am hoping that at the soonest time possible, we will be able to find and appoint a permanent chairman for this important committee,’ he said.
‘I am aware that many of our fellow Filipinos are hoping that this committee will investigate all who took advantage of the people’s money, whoever in the government may be involved,’ he added. /apl