By Vanne Terrazola Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday said she is eyeing to lead the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee in the next Congress. Senator Grace Poe (MANILA BULLETIN) Before the proclamation rites for the winning senators at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, Poe, who placed 2nd in the May 13 senatorial elections, was asked on her plans after securing another term in Senate, including the committees she want to handle. She admitted having interest in handling the Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations, more known as Blue Ribbon. But this would depend on whether or not Sen. Richard Gordon, who currently chairs the panel, would keep his post. "Mayroong equity of the incumbent , so ‘yan ay mangyayari lamang kung papayag si Senator Gordon. Maganda sana -- gusto ko rin ‘yon -- pero nasa kanya ‘yon (We have the equity of the incumbent, so it will only happen if Senator Gordon will agree to relinquish his chairmanship. It would be nice -- and I want it, too -- to chair the Blue Ribbon Committee. But it depends on him)," Poe told reporters. The Blue Ribbon Committee tackles and investigates matters relating to malfeasance, misfeasance and nonfeasance in office by public officials and employees; and other matters of public interest. In 2017, it led the Senate inquiry on the smuggling of the P6.4-billion worth of illegal drugs at the Bureau of Customs, and the controversial P3.5-billion dengue immunization program launched under the Aquino administration. Poe said she wanted the Blue Ribbon panel for its oversight authority on issues hounding the government, especially on corruption. "Maganda sana, ang isang independent, wala namang partido ; pero magaling din naman si Senator Gordon doon," she explained. But she said she wants to also continue leading the Committee on Public Services. "Unless nga na magkaroon ng desisyon si Senator Gordon, kasi ‘yan naman ay naipapaubaya sa kanya, bilang paggalang rin," Poe said. Senate leaders earlier bared that senators-elect have started lobbying for committee chairmanships as the Upper Chamber prepare for the reorganization when the 18th Congress opens in July. Incumbent majority senators, however, agreed to retain the current Senate leadership and the committee chairmanship of those whose terms will continue in the next Congress, unless they wish to vacate their posts. Gordon, according to Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, wanted to keep his chairmanship of the panel.