Senate Blue Ribbon Committee

The Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations of the Senate of the Philippines, or more popularly known as the Blue Ribbon Committee, is the Senate committee tasked to investigate alleged wrongdoings of the government, its officials, and its attached agencies, including government owned and controlled corporations, in aid of legislation, that is, the primary purpose is the suggestion of new laws, or proposals of amendments to existing laws.

Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations
19th Congress
Seal of the Senate of the Philippines
History
New session started
July 25, 2022 (2022-07-25)
Leadership
Chair
Minority Leader
Structure
Seats17
Political groups
Majority (16)
  •   PDP–Laban (4)
  •   Nacionalista (3)
  •   NPC (3)
  •   Lakas (1)
  •   LDP (1)
  •   PMP (1)
  •   Independent (3)
Minority (1)

Like all other committees, the Senate elects members of the Blue Ribbon Committee. The chairmanship of the committee has been one of the most sought posts in the Senate, aside from the Senate Presidency.

History

Cavite Representative Justiniano Montano of the Liberal Party, who was successfully included in the Liberal's 1949 Senate election ticket, supported Jose T. Cajulis of the Nacionalista Party in the elections to the House of Representatives seat he was retiring from. While the Liberals' candidate easily defeated Cajulis, Montano won in the Senate election; he formed a clique called "The Little Senate" with like-minded Liberal senators and began to attack President Elpidio Quirino (who was also from the Liberal Party)'s presidency. Montano then created the Blue Ribbon Committee, taking the name from other blue ribbon committees, with the mandate to investigate alleged irregularities from the executive branch.[1]

Thereafter, the Blue Ribbon Committee has become the most powerful Congressional committee, investigating alleged criminal misconduct by government officials in aid of legislation. However, the committee cannot incarcerate witnesses and resource persons, except in cases of contempt of Congress.

However, the Senate has adopted rules to limit the abuse of this power. These include that all investigations should be "in aid of legislation", the right against self-incrimination should not be violated, the right to counsel should be respected, rules of procedures should be published and persons concerned should be informed of the rules, and the investigation shall not serve as a member's personal aggrandizement.[2]

Controversies and scandals investigated

Under the presidency of Fidel V. Ramos:

  • PEA Amari scam (1995)

Under the presidency of Joseph Estrada:

Under the presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo:

Under the presidency of Benigno Aquino III:

During the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte:

During the presidency of Bongbong Marcos:

  • 2022 Philippine sugar crisis (2022-ongoing)
  • Overpriced and outdated laptops procured by DEPED through PS-DBM[3]
  • Non-Disclosure Agreements Precluding Disclosures of COVID-19 Vaccines Contracts[4]

Jurisdiction

According to the Rules of the Senate,[5] the Blue Ribbon Committee handles all matters relating to the following:

  • Investigation of malfeasance, misfeasance and nonfeasance in office by officers and employees of the government, its branches, agencies, subdivisions and instrumentalities
  • Implementation of the provision of the Constitution on nepotism
  • Investigation of any matter of public interest on its own initiative or brought to its attention by any member of the Senate

Members, 19th Congress

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has seventeen (17) members in the 19th Congress, as of September 28, 2022.[6]

The President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, the Majority Floor Leader Joel Villanueva, and the Minority Floor Leader Koko Pimentel are ex officio members.

Position Member Party
Chairperson Francis Tolentino PDP–Laban
Vice
Chairpersons		 Alan Peter Cayetano Independent
Ronald dela Rosa PDP–Laban
Bong Go PDP–Laban
Members
for the
Majority		 Sonny Angara LDP
Pia Cayetano Nacionalista
JV Ejercito NPC
Jinggoy Estrada PMP
Win Gatchalian NPC
Lito Lapid NPC
Imee Marcos Nacionalista
Robin Padilla PDP–Laban
Grace Poe Independent
Bong Revilla Lakas
Raffy Tulfo Independent
Mark Villar Nacionalista
Member
for the
Minority		 Risa Hontiveros Akbayan

Ex officio members:

Committee secretary: Atty. Rodolfo Noel S. Quimbo

List of chairpersons
Congress Chairperson Years
11th Aquilino Pimentel Jr. 1998–2001
12th Joker Arroyo 2001–2004
13th 2004–2007
14th Alan Peter Cayetano 2007–2009
Richard J. Gordon 2009–2010
15th TG Guingona 2010–2013
16th 2013–2016
17th Richard J. Gordon 2016–2019
18th 2019–2022
19th Francis Tolentino 2022–present

References
  1. McCoy, Alfred W. (2009). An Anarchy of Families: State and Family in the Philippines. University of Wisconsin Press. p. 130. ISBN 9780299229849.
  2. Lazo, Ricardo S. (2009). Philippine Governance and the 1987 Constitution' 2006 Ed. Rex Bookstore. p. 175. ISBN 9789712345463.
  3. "19th Congress - Committee Report No. 19 - Senate of the Philippines". legacy.senate.gov.ph. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  4. "Senate Blue Ribbon panel open to probe COVID-19 vaccine procurement, wastage—Tolentino". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  5. "Rules of the Senate" (PDF). Senate of the Philippines. March 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. "Senate Permanent Committees - 19th Congress" (PDF). Senate of the Philippines. September 28, 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2023.

See also
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