Senate lawyers eyeing raps vs Cayetano bloc over unauthorized 'hearing'

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June 16, 2026 | 11:19am

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate legal team is studying possible charges against Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano's bloc over what Sen. Erwin Tulfo described as an "unauthorized Blue Ribbon hearing" scheduled for Tuesday, June 16.

Tulfo, chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee under the majority-recognized Gatchalian bloc, said the Senate may consider filing a usurpation of authority complaint against senators who attend any unofficial Blue Ribbon hearing.

He cited a recommendation from National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag.

"Hindi naman pwedeng anytime, hahanap sila ng lugar, magpapanggap na mga Blue Ribbon hearing eh hindi naman Blue Ribbon. Iyan po malinaw na usurpation of authority 'yan dahil hindi naman sila ang Blue Ribbon committee," Tulfo said Tuesday morning in an interview with dzBB.

(We cannot allow them to look for a place anytime and pretend to hold a Blue Ribbon hearing when it is not a Blue Ribbon hearing. That is clearly usurpation of authority because they are not the Blue Ribbon committee.)

Tulfo said there were also recommendations to file libel and oral defamation complaints against individuals involved for allegedly issuing false statements and accusations.

Disputed hearing

Tulfo said the appointment of Cayetano-bloc senators as members of the Blue Ribbon Committee was illegal because it was not taken up in plenary.

He said attending any "hearing" outside Senate premises would violate Senate rules, adding that an ethics complaint may also be filed against them.

"Illegal na po talaga 'yung ginagawa po nila Sen. Marcoleta, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, illegal na ho talaga 'yon. So pag-aaralan ho ng legal team ng Senado kung ano ang nararapat na gawin," Tulfo said.

(What Sen. Marcoleta and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano are doing is already illegal. That is really illegal. So the Senate legal team will study what should be done.)

The hearing, which Tulfo described as "illegal" and "merely just a meeting," was supposed to take place at around 10 a.m. at Doublegem EDSA Garden Events Place in Mandaluyong, according to an announcement by former congressman Mike Defensor.

The venue's management, however, canceled the event just 10 minutes before it was scheduled to begin.

"We would also like to reiterate that Doublegem EDSA Garden Events Place has no affiliation whatsoever with the organizers, participants, or subject matter of the event. Our role was solely that of an independent events venue provider," the management said in a statement.

The "hearing" was supposed to be attended by Cayetano-bloc senators, along with 18 alleged bagmen and 14 unidentified others described as additional "witnesses" in the flood control probe.

Tulfo earlier dismissed the validity of the hearing and said it was unofficial.

"'Yun po siguro ay press conference lang po 'yun or media forum. Pero hindi po 'yung mako-consider na Blue Ribbon hearing," Tulfo said.

(That may be just a press conference or media forum. But it cannot be considered a Blue Ribbon hearing.) — with John Marwin Elao