Manila, June 15 -- Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday said any hearing or investigation conducted outside the duly constituted Blue Ribbon Committee chaired by Senator Erwin Tulfo will not be recognized.

Gatchalian said corruption investigations must be handled through a legitimate Senate forum.

"The Senate recognizes only one Blue Ribbon Committee, the one headed by Senator Erwin Tulfo. Any hearing or investigation conducted outside of this committee has no legal standing, carries no institutional authority, and will not be recognized by the Senate," Gatchalian said in a news release.

He said the work of exposing corruption and holding wrongdoers accountable is "serious business" and it must not be reduced to u...