Senate Blue Ribbon Committee denies setting June 16 hearing announced by Defensor

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Monday denied that it had scheduled a hearing on June 16, 2026, and distanced itself from announcements made by former Congressman Mike Defensor regarding an alleged committee proceeding.

In an official statement, the Blue Ribbon Committee said, “The public and all concerned stakeholders are hereby advised that no hearing of the Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (Blue Ribbon Committee) has been scheduled for June 16, 2026.”

The committee added that recent announcements made by Defensor regarding an alleged hearing were made “without the authority and approval of the Committee.”

It also stressed that Senate committee hearings must comply with established procedures, including the issuance of a formal three-day notice and the distribution of an agenda before any proceeding can take place.

According to the committee, the purported June 16 hearing did not comply with these requirements and was therefore not a legitimate Senate proceeding.

“Former Congressman Mike Defensor is neither a member of the Senate, nor the Blue Ribbon Committee,” the statement read. “Consequently, he is not privy to the official investigations of this body. He possesses no legal standing to announce any proceeding on behalf of the Senate.”

The committee said it would not allow its name or institutional integrity to be used for unauthorized disclosures and urged the public to rely only on official announcements issued by the Blue Ribbon Committee or the Senate of the Philippines.