Metro Manila, Philippines – Sen. Erwin Tulfo is the new blue ribbon committee chairman, replacing Sen. Pia Cayetano in leading the probe on the flood control corruption scandal.
Tulfo was appointed on Wednesday, June 3, with other committee chairpersons just after Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian was elected Senate president pro tempore and concurrent acting president.
Gatchalian had a solid 11-minority bloc vote plus Sen. Chiz Escudero, from the group of Cayetano, allowing a quorum to conduct business. Other senators snubbed the session for the third consecutive day.
Sen. Tito Sotto then moved to declare all seats vacant – except for the Senate presidency.
Here are the other committees and their new chairpersons:
- JV Ejercito – finance
- Tito Sotto – national defense
- Ping Lacson – public order and accounts
- Erwin Tulfo – accountability of public officers and investigations (blue ribbon), social welfare and development
- Raffy Tulfo – public services
- Bam Aquino – basic education
- Kiko Pangilinan – agriculture
- Risa Hontiveros – health
- Lito Lapid – games and amusements
- Chiz Escudero – housing (retained)
- Migz Zubiri – foreign relations
Tulfo announced that the flood control probe will resume hearings on Monday, June 8. The lawmaker has also made all his colleagues members of the committee.
