Tolentino leaves blue ribbon cmte to fulfill pledge to head it for short time

File photo of Sen. Francis Tolentino in a Senate hearing. (Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Francis Tolentino formally announced he is leaving his post as the chairperson of Senate committee on accountability of public officers and investigations.

The panel is also known as the blue ribbon committee.

Tolentino confirmed this move in a press conference on Tuesday.

The senator said the resignation is in fulfillment of a commitment that he will head the panel for only one and a half year.

“This decision is rooted in a deep-seated belief that public office demands fidelity to pledges made,” he explained.

“The fulfillment of the agreement is based on a deep belief that the promise to serve for a short time is a sacred duty to serve the people that must be fulfilled. It’s my intention to honor an agreement,” Tolentino said, adding that it was a promise he made with the Senate leadership.

Besides fulfilling this promise, Tolentino said one of the reasons behind his resignation was that he intended to focus on handling the Senate special panel on maritime and admiralty zones.

“I think I need to focus and give my whole heart and time because I think the matter of maritime zones is very broad and I think it will be covered in the coming hours by the next administrations,”

Both Senators Tolentino and Alan Peter Cayetano previously vied for the chairmanship of the committee.

Tolentino took the helm of the panel in 2022.

Apart from resigning from his post as the chair of the blue ribbon panel, Tolentino also stepped down as a member of the Commission on Appointments.

Tolentino’s resignation would be made official in a plenary session once the upper chamber resumes session on January 22, 20224.

It is not yet certain who will take over his post.