Tulfo clarifies June 16 hearing

SENATE Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) Chairperson Erwin T. Tulfo said no official hearing has been scheduled by the panel for June 16 following former lawmaker Michael “Mike” T. Defensor’s dissemination of advisories.

In a signed statement, Mr. Tulfo rejected the supposed flood control probe to be held on Tuesday at the DoubleGem EDSA Garden Events Place as circulated online by Mr. Defensor.

“The committee wishes to clarify that the recent announcements made by former congressman Mike Defensor regarding an alleged hearing on said date were made without the authority, and approval of the committee,” Mr. Tulfo said.

In a phone call with Senate reporters, Mr. Tulfo noted that no committee secretariat will be attending the supposed hearing, making it unofficial.

“They are conducting it outside so it is clear that it is not a BRC hearing. What will happen tomorrow is a press conference, they are free to do that,” he said in Filipino, but raised that Mr. Defensor may be practicing usurpation of authority.

Through the BRC statement, Mr. Tulfo said Mr. Defensor possessed no legal standing to declare the conduct of such proceedings using the Senate’s name given that he is not a member of the chamber.

He also called on the public to only rely on official advisories and announcements released by the panel. — Kaela Patricia B. Gabriel