00:00Today we gather for a consultative meeting and an organizational briefing to organize the Blue Ribbon Committee
00:06under the present majority block headed by Senate pro tempore and acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchelian.
00:13To be clear, we will be asking for updates from the executive agencies.
00:18As we proceed, this committee must likewise address the circumstances surrounding the June 4 press conference held in the session
00:26hall.
00:27That press conference was presented to the public as a Blue Ribbon Committee proceeding,
00:33despite having no authorization from the duly recognized chairman of the committee
00:39or from the office of the acting Senate President.
00:43It was conducted outside established Senate rules and institutional processes.
00:48Simply put, it was not a legitimate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing.
00:53It was irregular, a hausiao, as you may want to call it, a make-believe investigation masquerading as an official
01:01Senate proceeding.
01:03Sa esinggawang ilihiti mong pagdinig, muling naungkat ang mga testimony ng labing walong maleta boys,
01:11kaugnay sa diyo muna yung milyon-milyong kickback mula sa flood control projects
01:15na dinilever daw nila sa ilang mga opisyal, kabilang na po sa inyong lingkod at maging sa isang pare.
01:23Ito po ay walang basihan, walang katotohanan, ni walang naipresentan dokumento, resibo o anumang kongkretong patunay,
01:35kundi puro salita lamang.
01:38Madali pong magturo, madaling gumawa ng kwento at napakadaling manira na reputasyon.
01:47Kaya tungkulin po ng Blue Ribbon Committee na tiyakin ang bawat aligasyon ay nakabatay sa matibay na ebidensya
01:53at mapagkatiwala ang testimonya.
01:57Hindi po tayo papayag na basta na lamang may darating po dito sa committee na ito
02:03para maglahad na kung ano-ano na wala naman po mga ebidensya
02:07o mga testigo na bigla na lamang pong susulpot kinabukasan na hindi na po makagilap.
02:14Hindi tayo narito upang magbigay ng hatol batay lamang po sa mga haka-haka.
02:20Narito tayo upang alamin ang katotohanan.
02:23At this juncture, please allow me to acknowledge the presence of my esteemed colleagues,
02:29Senators Kiko Pangilinan, our Vice Chairperson,
02:33our Acting Senate President, Senate Pro Tempore Wien Gachalian,
02:40and my colleague, Senator Rafi Tulfo.
02:44Thank you for coming today.
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