Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee remains open to hearing the testimonies of the 18 “ex-Marines” who claimed to have delivered alleged kickbacks to certain personalities, provided their statements are grounded in truth.
“Hindi naman sarado ang pintuan ng Blue Ribbon Committee para dinggin sila. Pero ayusin lang nila para hindi maging circus,” Lacson, who chairs the committee, said in a radio interview.
He noted that while cash deliveries tied to flood control projects cannot be denied, some claims—such as the alleged ₱805 billion in cash deliveries—were beyond the “realm of possibilities.”
“Ayusin lang ninyo ang affidavit, ilapit ninyo sa katotohanan, at tatawag ako ng pagdinig,” Lacson said.
“Sa ngayon maliwanag naman may kasinungalingan ang kanilang affidavit kasi imposible ang ₱805 billion… parang nakakainsulto sa katalinuhan ng mga Pilipino.”
Lacson urged lawyer Levito Baligod, who presented the 18 individuals in a press conference last February 24, to take necessary steps to correct the affidavits.
He said the committee’s goal is to expose the truth, not falsehoods.
“I-maintain ko ang aking position, we go where the evidence leads us. Hindi nagbabago yan,” Lacson stressed, adding that the Blue Ribbon Committee will not shy away from pursuing accountability, even if fellow senators are implicated.