QUEZON CITY—Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Senator Erwin Tulfo clarified that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s announcement regarding the imminent filing of cases against former House Speaker Ferdinand "Martin" Romualdez over the multi-billion peso flood control scandal does not signal the end of the upper chamber's investigation. 

Speaking on the sidelines of the President's fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Tulfo emphasized that the legislative probe remains active, particularly if new anomalies and personalities come to light.

The panel chairman made it clear that executive legal action will not automatically stall Senate proceedings, pointing to other unexamined regularities in local projects.

“No. It doesn’t. Kung meron pong mga kagaya nung binabanggit ni Senator Lacson na sa Taguig na hindi naman po na-mention nung unang hearing, then why not?” Tulfo stated, signaling a readiness to expand the scope of the probe to unvetted local projects.

However, Tulfo noted that the committee needs to coordinate with other lawmakers to finalize their next legislative steps, particularly regarding evidence handling. 

He expressed a preference for tackling new leads within the Senate halls rather than letting them bypass the committee entirely. 

“Pero kailangan kong kausapin si Senator Lacson na ano ho ba talaga? Kasi may statement siya sa media na dadalhin niya nalang sa Ombudsman. Alangan ba naman kukunin ko sa Ombudsman yung kaso pero kung dito sa amin ididinig edi ididinig namin,” he explained.

The lawmaker drew a sharp line between revisiting resolved findings and uncovering fresh corruption angles, noting that the committee will focus its energy where it is needed most. 

He asserted that duplication of efforts is unnecessary if the Department of Justice or the Ombudsman is already handling the primary targets. 

“Ngayong kung sila Romualdez at kung sino-sino pa dyan na mga Congressman, si Zaldy Co, mga contractor nandoon na po eh, nakasuhan na po…bakit pa namin iimbestigahan ulit? Iimbestigahan namin kapag may mga bagong personalities na naman, bagong mga Senador, bagong mga congressman, then we will investigate,” Tulfo added.

Despite the remaining questions surrounding the flood control controversy, the veteran broadcaster turned lawmaker expressed overall satisfaction with the President’s annual address. 

Tulfo lauded the Chief Executive for addressing the public's demand for accountability and delivering on anti-corruption rhetoric with concrete legal actions. 

“It’s okay with me kasi yung hiniintay ng mga tao na tungkol sa “mahiya naman kayo sa flood control” may resulta diba?” Tulfo concluded.

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