SENATOR FRANCIS “KIKO” PANGILINAN’S OPENING STATEMENT FOR THE BLUE-RIBBON CONSULTATION (AS DELIVERED)

June 8, 2026

MAGANDANG UMAGA SA ATING LAHAT.

AS EARLIER NOTED FOR THE RECORD, TODAY’S PROCEEDINGS ARE BEING CONDUCTED AS A CONSULTATION AND ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING RATHER THAN A HEARING OF THE COMMITTEE. THE PURPOSE IS TO FACILITATE THE ORDERLY TRANSITION AND CONTINUITY OF THE COMMITTEE’S WORK PENDING THE COMPLETION OF ITS REORGANIZATION AND  MEMBERSHIP AND FORMAL CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMITTEE.

AS WE PROCEED WITH THE FORMAL AND OFFICIAL PUBLIC CONSULTATION MEETING OF THIS COMMITTEE, ALLOW US TO PLACE ON RECORD THE FOLLOWING AND REITERATE THE FOLLOWING:

THE JUNE 3 SESSION CONVENED BY 12 SENATORS WAS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONSTITUTION, THE RULES OF THE SENATE AND JURISPRUDENCE, AND 12 BEING A QUORUM, ALL ACTS PERTAINING TO THE OFFICIAL BUSINESS OF THE SENATE IN PLENARY ON JUNE 3 ARE DEEMED LAWFUL CONSISTENT WITH THE CONSTITUTION INCLUDING THE MOTION TO DECLARE ALL ELECTED POSITIONS VACANT, WHICH INCLUDES: 

  1. THE POSITION OF SENATE PRESIDENT.
  2. THE ELECTION OF SENATOR WIN GATCHALIAN AS PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE TO ADDRESS THE VACANCY IN THE POSITION OF SENATE PRESIDENT IS ALSO LAWFUL AND CONSISTENT WITH THE CONSTITUTION.
  3. THE ELECTION OF SENATOR ERWIN TULFO AS CHAIRPERSON OF THE BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE IS LIKEWISE LAWFUL AND CONSISTENT WITH OUR RULES. 

IN ADDITION THE OFFICIAL ACTS OF THE SENATE IN PLENARY LAST JUNE 3 HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS LAWFUL AND CONSISTENT WITH THE CONSTITUTION BY THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SEVERAL RETIRED SUPREME COURT JUSTICES, DEANS AND EMINENT PROFESSORS OF LAW OF VARIOUS LAW SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE, FIVE FORMER SENATE PRESIDENTS, AND NO LESS THAN THE INTEGRATED BAR OF THE PHILIPPINES – LARGEST ORGANIZATION OF LAWYERS IN THE COUNTRY.

AS SUCH WE REITERATE THEREFORE THAT THE SO CALLED BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE HEARING CONDUCTED LAST THURSDAY, JUNE 4, WAS ILLEGAL VOID AB INITIO HAD NO BINDING EFFECT. 

IT IS IN THIS CONTEXT THAT TODAY’S PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF THE BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE IS BEING CALLED TO ORDER. AND WE HOPE THAT WITH THIS PROCEEDINGS WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUTH BEHIND THE ALLEGATIONS EARLIER PRESENTED. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN AND I YIELD THE FLOOR. ##