Alan Peter Cayetano - Blue Ribbon Commitee Chairman

[etneroll]

Headlines
FG foe gets Blue Ribbon
By Christina Mendez
Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, whose stint as congressman was marked by his vociferous criticism of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, was named chairman yesterday of the powerful Senate Blue Ribbon committee.

Cayetano got the coveted post despite objections from pro-administration senators who had asked Senate President Manuel Villar to appoint one who is “non-confrontational.” Cayetano also took the chairmanship of the education committee.

“Unity is important not just for the majority or the minority groups but for the entire Senate. I hope the talks of reunification will now be the start of a working and united Senate, all together in looking after the needs of our people,” Villar said after announcing Cayetano’s appointment.

With the development, all 36 Senate committees, except on ethics, are already filled. The ethics committee chairmanship was also vacant in the previous Congress. All minority senators, except for Sen. Panfilo Lacson, got their respective committee chairmanships.

Malacañang was unfazed by Cayetano’s appointment. “We presume that all senators will exercise their duty, whatever party they belong to, and abide by the usual parliamentary rules as well as the national interest in whatever matter they will take up,” Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo said.

“We go by the belief that senators will act as representatives of the people and the people expect the same,” Saludo said.

Cayetano told The STAR that he is determined to complete the investigation of the Jose Pidal case, which involves alleged secret bank accounts of Mr. Arroyo and then Vice President Gloria Arroyo.

Cayetano has also been vocal on the failure of former Blue Ribbon chairman Joker Arroyo to come out with a resolution on the Jose Pidal case.

“We have to review the evidence but we have to be fair on both sides, and evaluate evidence,” he said.

On the possible re-investigation of the fertilizer scam under former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante, Cayetano said he will have to consult with the chairman of the Senate committee on Agriculture and Food if he wants to re-open the case.

“Well, on the Joc-joc Bolante case, I have to check it first with the proponents and the chair of the Committee on Agriculture if they want to re-open it or not. If not, I will not have second thoughts of taking it up,” Cayetano said.

As chairman, Cayetano said he has to weigh the evidence on the issues. But Cayetano said he is keen not only on conducting inquiries, but also on reviewing the roles of other institutions like the Ombudsman and the Prosecutors Office.

“I thank God, and Sen. Villar for thinking about the institution first, (giving me the post) with no strings attached and no restrictions,” Cayetano said.

Asked to comment on Cayetano’s appointment, Joker said: “Good luck.”

Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan gets the Committee on Accounts while Senate president pro-tempore Jinggoy Estrada gets labor, employment and human resource development; and the oversight committee on labor and employment.

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago retained her post as chairperson of the committees on foreign relations and energy. She also remains chair of the oversight committee on the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

Sen. Lito Lapid retained games, amusement, and sports while Ramon Revilla Jr. remains chairman of the committees on public works, and public information. Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile will get the Committee on Finance, which was formerly headed by ex-senator Franklin Drilon.

Enrile, a veteran lawmaker, was also designated as chair of the oversight on the official development assistance on law.

Sen. Gregorio Honasan gets the committee on public order while Sen. Edgardo Angara gets the committees on Agriculture and Food; Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies; Science and Technology as well as the oversight committees on Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization and the oversight on Anti- Money Laundering.

Sen. Richard Gordon retains his chairmanship of Constitutional Amendments, Revisions of Codes and Laws and the Government Corporations and Public Enterprises and Tourism. He also gets the oversight committee on overseas voting and the oversight on government procurement act.

Pia Cayetano gets to retain her chairmanship over Environment and Natural Resources, and Health as well as the oversight committees on clean air act, clean water act, solid waste management act.

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Hmm, ano naman kaya mangyayari sa Senado nito, for sure.

[etneroll]

I agree that an opposition should handle this committee but I was expecting that he should be mature enough to handle cases and not use it for propaganda pusposes only...any comments guys?

[shadow]

baka bumalik ng hospital si FG.....hehehehe

[Syuryuken]

Hindi makakaporma mga kawatan ngayon

[Stoner]

Comments? More trials by publicity... 'in aid of legislation' kuno. But no new laws will really be passed... Don't get me wrong, I'm no FG/GMA lover... just tired of the same old crap.

[VtEC]

This is good.a very powerful committee.FG, watch out!!!

[jeffrocks]

"The Song Remains The Same"
"Daze And Confused"
"Rocked And NO Roll"
"no Celebration Day"

[HIFI]

I'm ambivalent with Cayetano being the chairman of the blue ribbon committee. Based on what I see on presscons, and newspapers, he's a loose cannon.

[RedHorse]

popcorn

lazyboy

[oldblue]

bago tayo magumpisa ng talakayan

para san ba talaga yan Blue Ribbon Commitee

[Stoner]

Blue Ribbon Committee = Sort of Committee of Investigations.

According the Joker Arroyo's radio commentary (which I found very informative), the Blue Ribbon committee is technically the most powerful within the Senate as it has/can have jurisdiction over all areas of concern in terms of legislation.

Ang labas daw ngayon, pag meron mainit na issue, kahit na meron appropriate committee for that, lahat pinapasa sa Blue Ribbon.

So you could imagine the power struggle every time over whose going to be the chairman...

[Diesel_Torque]

Comments? More trials by publicity... 'in aid of legislation' kuno. But no new laws will really be passed... Don't get me wrong, I'm no FG/GMA lover... just tired of the same old crap.

Oo nga naman i agree publicity nnaman yan tpos wla naman nangyayari pa-pogi lang pra sumikat ulit, sa madaling salita marami exposure sa Media marami nauuto pra next election malay natin kumandidato nman ng vice president yan iboboto nnman ng masang Pinoy kc lagi nkikita sa TV na bumabatikos at naninira sinsamantala ung galit ng tao pra manalo haaay! naku! hindi na tyo natuto.

[mayana]

para san ba talaga yan Blue Ribbon Commitee

It is actually "Accountability of Public Officers & Investigations" tinawag lang nilang blue-ribbon committee.

[red01]

AFAIK, wala yatang naipasang batas si Mr Cayetano last congress, tama ba? Kasi puro pag iimbestiga ang ginagawa, which dapat yun yata ang unang trabaho ng mambabatas? Naisip ko tuloy ginawa nya yon para mapansin siya at manalo sa Senado. Hai naku...

Sana in aid of legislation talaga at wag lang for PR purposes. Sana di siya mapahiya gaya ng nangyari sa German account ni FG.

[oldblue]

e baka kaya nga siya nilagay dyan kasi nga incompetent sya mag-imbistiga, puro dakdak lang. so that means tuloy ang ligaya ng mga future na gagawa ng kalokohan at maimbestigahan hehehe

[Hanren]

Dahil ba tinira niya si FG kaya siya nilagay diyan?

Should that post be for those who display enough statemanship (whether imagined or not) and balanced views? I don't think Allan will have the public interest in mind as his priority. It will only embolden him to attack GMA and her programs with politics running in the background.

We never learn.

[snowbound]

this man is showing his true colors. he knew beforehand that ping is interested to this committee and yet, he really worked it out to get it. can he not show some respect to senior senators. for all we know, he wants to increase his media mileage. 9 years in congress with not even single bill filed. AFAIK, bading daw to, mabunganga. sobra.

[jonski]

bakit eto nakuha ng isang tao na salita ng salita pero wala naman ebidensya at kapag hinamaon na samahan sna maghanap ng ebidensya ay biglang magtatago tapos biglang kakanddatong maging senador?

[Galactus]

Maski naman si Sen. Joker Arroyo, walang malaking pasabog when he was the Chair of the Blue Ribbon committee. I was disappointed during his stint there, although I personally admire the man for his incorruptibility.

Hayaan muna natin si Cayetano. Lets give him the benefit of the doubt.

[chua_riwap]

He-he! Dami against kay Cayetano ah.......

Sino ba gusto nyo umupo sa Blue Ribbon Committee?