| Background Color: | firebrick |
| Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations | |
| Legislature: | 19th Congress |
| Coa Res: | 125px |
| Coa Alt: | Seal of the Senate of the Philippines |
| Body: | Congress of the Philippines |
| Leader1: | Pia Cayetano |
| Leader2: | Koko Pimentel |
| Leader1 Type: | Chair |
| Party2: | (PDP–Laban) |
| Party1: | (Nacionalista) |
| Election1: | 2024 |
| Election2: | 2022 |
| Political Groups1: | Majority (16)
Minority (1) |
| Leader2 Type: | Minority Leader |
| Members: | 17 |
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.
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.
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]
Under the presidency of Fidel V. Ramos:
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:
According to the Rules of the Senate,[5] the Blue Ribbon Committee handles all matters relating to the following:
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has sixteen (16) members in the 19th Congress, as of 7 August 2024.[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 | Pia Cayetano | ||
| Vice Chairpersons | Alan Peter Cayetano | ||
| Ronald dela Rosa | |||
| Bong Go | |||
| Members for the Majority | Vacant | ||
| Pia Cayetano | |||
| JV Ejercito | |||
| Jinggoy Estrada | |||
| Win Gatchalian | |||
| Lito Lapid | |||
| Imee Marcos | |||
| Robin Padilla | |||
| Grace Poe | |||
| Bong Revilla | |||
| Raffy Tulfo | |||
| Mark Villar | |||
| Member for the Minority | Risa Hontiveros | ||
Committee secretary: Director General Atty. Rodolfo Noel S. Quimbo
| Congress | Chairperson | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 7th | Teofisto Guingona Jr. | 1987–1990 |
| Wigberto Tañada | 1990–1992 | |
| 8th | Ernesto Maceda | 1992–1993 |
| Heherson Alvarez | 1993–1995 | |
| 9th | Franklin Drilon | 1995–1998 |
| 10th | Aquilino Pimentel Jr. | 1998–2001 |
| 11th | 1998–2001 | |
| 12th | Joker Arroyo | 2001–2004 |
| 13th | 2004–2007 | |
| 14th | Alan Peter Cayetano | 2007–2009 |
| Dick Gordon | 2009–2010 | |
| 15th | TG Guingona | 2010–2013 |
| 16th | 2013–2016 | |
| 17th | Dick Gordon | 2016–2019 |
| 18th | 2019–2022 | |
| 19th | Francis Tolentino | 2022–2023 |
| Pia Cayetano | 2024–present |