SENATE Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday called on his colleagues to set a clear direction for the Blue Ribbon Committee and ensure fairness in its investigations, saying the Senate should serve as “salt and light” to the nation.
In a series of radio interviews and a press conference on October 8, Cayetano said the chamber must first agree on how to make the Blue Ribbon hearings fair, transparent, and credible before deciding who will chair the committee.
“Three things – yung direction, make it joint. Number two, let’s define the terms and make it fair to everyone. Then three, walang takipan,” he said.
He said investigations should not depend on political alignments and stressed that the minority only wants the Senate to act as one body that ensures accountability for all.
“Ang gusto namin [minority] ayusin sana. Ano ang direction natin? Baka we can agree, direction muna natin (ang pagtuunan). Pangalawa, kumpletuhin y’ung [mga kailangan na] dokumento,” he said.
While acknowledging that different senators may have their own opinions on who should lead the Blue Ribbon Committee, Cayetano said what matters more is unity and purpose.
“Hindi kami [minority] nakikialam sa affairs ng majority… Pero pag usapin [tungkol] sa Blue Ribbon, usapan ng buong Senado,” he said.
Cayetano stressed that the Senate must lead by example in integrity and transparency, especially in investigating issues such as the alleged irregularities in flood control projects. He added that the Senate must reclaim its role in guiding the country through challenges.
“We’re all equally guilty. Right now the Senate kasi is part of the problem. The Senate in the darkest times of our country always was the salt and light, providing a vision,” Cayetano said.
“Hanggang walang kongkretong vision na pwedeng kagatin ng most of the Filipinos rather than grupo-grupo, magiging ganito [kagulo],” he added.
