Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Explained

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.

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:

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:

Jurisdiction

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

Members, 19th Congress

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.

PositionMemberParty
ChairpersonPia 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
Ex officio members:

Committee secretary: Director General Atty. Rodolfo Noel S. Quimbo

List of chairpersons

CongressChairpersonYears
7thTeofisto Guingona Jr.1987–1990
Wigberto Tañada1990–1992
8thErnesto Maceda1992–1993
Heherson Alvarez1993–1995
9thFranklin Drilon1995–1998
10thAquilino Pimentel Jr.1998–2001
11th1998–2001
12thJoker Arroyo2001–2004
13th2004–2007
14thAlan Peter Cayetano2007–2009
Dick Gordon2009–2010
15thTG Guingona2010–2013
16th2013–2016
17thDick Gordon2016–2019
18th2019–2022
19thFrancis Tolentino2022–2023
Pia Cayetano2024–present

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: McCoy, Alfred W. . An Anarchy of Families: State and Family in the Philippines . 2009 . . 130. 9780299229849 .
  2. Book: Lazo, Ricardo S. . Philippine Governance and the 1987 Constitution' 2006 Ed. . 2009 . Rex Bookstore . 175. 9789712345463 .
  3. Web site: 19th Congress - Committee Report No. 19 - Senate of the Philippines . 2023-09-18 . legacy.senate.gov.ph.
  4. Web site: Senate Blue Ribbon panel open to probe COVID-19 vaccine procurement, wastage—Tolentino . 2023-09-18 . Manila Bulletin . en.
  5. Web site: March 2023 . Rules of the Senate . 18 September 2023 . Senate of the Philippines.
  6. Web site: 7 August 2024 . Senate Permanent Committees - 19th Congress . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230110141329/http://legacy.senate.gov.ph/committee/ctte_mem19th.pdf . January 10, 2023 . 7 August 2024 . Senate of the Philippines.