Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Wednesday dismissed the “minority report” released by members of the Senate minority bloc, saying it undermined the authority of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
Lacson, who chairs the anti-graft panel, questioned the basis and intent of the document, stressing that Senate rules do not allow for such a filing at this stage of the investigation.
“Wala naman sa rules yan. Hindi ko alam kung bakit biglang nagkaroon ng minority report. Pinadala niya sa blue ribbon. Anong gagawin ko roon?” Lacson said in a radio interview.
He further argued that the committee should not even consider the report as a reference, noting that its submission showed disregard for the panel’s processes.
“How would they expect na irerespeto ko yung kanilang minority report even as a reference kung yung minority report mismo… nagsi-symbolize ng disrespect sa committee? Papaano ko rerespetuhin yun?” he added.
The report, made public Tuesday by minority members Rodante Marcoleta and Imee Marcos, was signed by six of the nine senators in the bloc.
It named several political figures allegedly linked to irregularities in flood control projects, including former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, former Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co, and Senators Chiz Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, and Joel Villanueva.
The minority bloc claimed the Blue Ribbon Committee’s inquiry into the flood control scandal had reached an impasse.