Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson is set to take the findings of the Blue Ribbon Committee’s high-profile investigation into flood control projects directly to the Senate floor to ensure public transparency.
Lacson, who chairs the committee, announced on Friday his decision to deliver a chairman’s progress report via a privilege speech. This move aims to bypass the current deadlock in the committee, where the partial report has yet to garner enough signatures from members for official filing and sponsorship.
By bringing the matter to the plenary, Lacson intends to present a comprehensive summary of the evidence gathered across nearly eight hearings.
“I am decided to bring up in plenary the contents and more of what we have accomplished so far. The Filipino people not only deserve to be updated but more so properly and accurately informed amid the false narratives being floated by some critics.”
NAVIGATING COMMITTEE HESITATION
The veteran lawmaker clarified that signing a committee report does not necessarily mean a senator agrees with every single finding; rather, it is a procedural step to allow the findings to be debated and amended openly.
Despite this, some colleagues, including Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, have declined to sign the document.
While Lacson expressed disagreement with their refusal to move the report forward, he maintained a level of professional courtesy toward his fellow senators.
“While I disagree with those who do not want to sign, let me be clear that I respect and understand their individual decisions whatever their reasons are, including that of the minority leader.”
ROOTED IN THE PRESIDENT’S MANDATE
Lacson attributed the momentum of the investigation to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s own anti-corruption stance. He noted that the probe was a direct response to the President’s stern warning to corrupt officials during his previous State of the Nation Address (SONA).
“It must be recalled that it was President Marcos who triggered, even motivated me and my team to follow through on his ‘Mahiya naman kayo’ SONA message last year and I sincerely believe that the hearings triggered and exposed many vital pieces of evidence.”
(“It must be recalled that it was President Marcos who triggered, even motivated me and my team to follow through on his ‘Shame on you’ SONA message last year and I sincerely believe that the hearings triggered and exposed many vital pieces of evidence.”)
According to the committee chairman, the investigation has successfully uncovered pivotal evidence that is already being used to build cases against those involved in the multi-billion peso controversy.
Lacson emphasized that the primary objective remains the accurate accounting of taxpayer funds intended for critical flood mitigation infrastructure.