Senator Alan Peter Cayetano is expected to return as chairman of the powerful Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that current chairman, Senator Francis “Tol” Tolentino, is expected to vacate next month.

Cayetano, a former speaker of the House of Representatives, headed the Senate panel during the 14th Congress. He steered the Upper Chamber’s probe into the controversial NBN-ZTE deal and reactivated the investigation into the Fertilizer scandal that hounded the administration of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

There are a number of speculations as to who among the current crop of senators will replace Tolentino but Cayetano’s name has been mentioned most compared to his rivals.

Tolentino, who is seeking a second and final term as senator, announced Tuesday (December 19) that he is stepping down “to honor an agreement” with the Senate leadership.

He is also giving up his membership of the Commission on Appointments.

“In fulfillment of a sacred commitment to serve as Blue Ribbon Committee chairman and Member of the Commission on Appointments for a concise term of one and a half years, I find it both duty and an honor to uphold the essence of a prior agreement,” said Tolentino who served distinguished terms as mayor of Tagaytay City and chairman of the Metro Manila Commission.

He added: “This decision is rooted in a deep-seated belief that public office demands fidelity to pledges made.”

In a press conference held the same day, Tolentino advised his successor to “implement what needs to be done and recognize the authority of the blue ribbon panel”.

His term as top congressional investigator include the probe into the suspected sugar smuggling that linked a close relative of a top Malacanang official and the overpriced laptop deal that involved the offices of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.

Cayetano could not be reached for comment.