Senator Erwin Tulfo yesterday said the Blue Ribbon Committee may hold only one more hearing before issuing its initial flood control report as the investigation winds down with cases already filed and multiple agencies now having jurisdiction.
He added all evidence, testimony, and documents gathered will be turned over to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, the Department of Justice, and the Office of the Ombudsman.
“That is already under their jurisdiction. So our plan is to prepare an initial committee report to wrap this up,” said Tulfo.
The senator indicated the final hearing’s timing and direction of the report will be discussed next week, adding that the Senate’s focus on ongoing budget hearings has limited its capacity to continue additional flood control sessions.
On the alleged kickbacks, Tulfo said former DPWH Usec Roberto Bernardo appears willing to return funds voluntarily, possibly in exchange for entering the Witness Protection Program, although he could not confirm reports that the money has already been returned.
Meanwhile, the neophyte lawmaker expressed concern that the arrest of implicated senators could disrupt Senate operations and affect quorum.
“This is our problem, we’ll see,” he said.
