MANILA, Philippines — To all those who doubt, criticize, and hijack his committee, the Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon chairman has one message: “Shut the f— up!”
After outlining the successes of the Blue Ribbon Committee during its hearing this Monday, he insisted that the noise from critics contributes nothing to the investigation and cannot silence the truth.
“Your noise cannot convict, and won’t even indict the malefactors in this flood control mess; only evidence does,” he said.
He also stressed that critics’ mockery of the Blue Ribbon Committee as “useless” and “ineffective” is also an insult to the Filipinos who continue to follow the committee’s hearings and those who joined the Trillion Peso March.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings continued today regarding the anomalous flood control projects.
Blue Ribbon Committee
The “Blue Ribbon Committee” is not a specific place or cultural site, but a common term for a high-level advisory panel, often appointed by a government or organization, to investigate or make recommendations on a significant issue. Historically, such committees get their name from the symbolic “blue ribbon” awarded for first prize, indicating their importance and authority. For example, in the United States, various Blue Ribbon Commissions have been formed to address topics like education reform, defense, and public policy.
Trillion Peso March
The “Trillion Peso March” is not a physical place or cultural site, but a major protest movement in the Philippines. It refers to a series of large demonstrations in 2013 and 2014, primarily in Manila, where citizens rallied against the misuse of public funds, specifically targeting the “Priority Development Assistance Fund” (PDAF) scam, where billions of pesos were allegedly siphoned by politicians. The name “Trillion Peso March” symbolized public outrage over corruption and the demand for government accountability.
