Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has hinted at his possible return as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Accountability, Public Officers and Investigations, more commonly known as the Blue Ribbon Committee.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, October 25, Lacson stated that the Senate’s investigation into the flood control projects is set to resume on November 14.
“If elected again as Blue Ribbon chairman on Nov 10, our hearing will resume on Nov 14,” said Lacson.
According to him, several politicians and officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), including Orly Guteza, will be among those invited to attend the upcoming hearings.
“To help speed up the filing of airtight cases against some politicians, DPWH officials and errant contractors, we will invite among others, a ‘very important witness’ and retired TSgt Orly Guteza to shed more light on his ‘sinumpaang salaysay,’” Lacson added.
It can be recalled that on October 4, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III announced the temporary suspension of the Blue Ribbon Committee’s probe into the flood control projects. Shortly afterward, Lacson tendered his resignation as committee chair.
“Dahil sa mga naririnig ko na pahiwatig ng aking mga kasamahan eh isa sa mga konsiderasyon ko, mag-move o mag-submit na lang ng aking resignation bilang chairperson at humanap sila ng ibang puwede mag-chairman ng Blue Ribbon committee,” Lacson earlier said in an interview.
Should Lacson reclaim the post, the Blue Ribbon Committee is expected to continue its inquiry with renewed momentum, focusing on uncovering irregularities in the DPWH’s flood control initiatives.