Tolentino quits as chairman of Senate blue ribbon panel

SEN. Francis Tolentino yesterday announced his resignation as chairman of the Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations, or the Blue Ribbon committee, and member of the bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA) effective December 31, 2023.

In a press conference, Tolentino said his resignation is “in fulfillment of a sacred commitment” to serve the positions for a “concise term of one and a half years.”

“The decision is rooted in a deep-seated belief that public office demands fidelity to pledges made. Ang pagtupad sa kasunduan ay nakabatay sa aking malalim na paniniwala na ang pangako na maglingkod ng maikling panahon ay isang sagradong tungkulin sa paglilingkod sa bayan na dapat tuparin (It is my intention to honor my commitment to occupy these positions for only a specific period. Fulfilling my end of the agreement is based on my strong belief that this is part of my sacred duty to serve the country),” Tolentino said.

Tolentino was named chairperson of the blue ribbon panel and a member of the CA in July 2023 when the 19th Congress opened. He said he had an agreement with the “Senate leadership” that he will only occupy the two posts for one and a half year or until December 31, 2023.

He said he will formally inform the Senate leadership of his resignation when sessions resume on January 22, 2024.

Tolentino said he accepted the chairmanship of the blue ribbon committee since “I want to help the Senate leadership.”

“I want to help the Senate administration in fast-tracking the formation of various committees for a new administration, new executive, and a new Senate. So, para mapabilis na (So, just to speed up the process),” he said.

When asked who will replace him, he said it will up to the Senate leadership, but hinted that the leadership prefers that the new chairman be a lawyer.

Aside from Tolentino, there are currently five other lawyer-senators – Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel III, and Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Francis Escudero, and Juan Edgardo Angara.

“Katapusan ng taong ito ‘yung term ko based on the agreement sa Commission on Appointments and as blue ribbon committee chairman. So hanggang wala