Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson publicly commended Senator Erwin Tulfo on Saturday, June 13, for prioritizing his legislative duties over political pressure from colleagues regarding a controversial investigation into anomalous flood control projects.
Lacson’s praise came after Tulfo revealed in a podcast interview that he faced backlash from fellow senators for signing the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s (BRC) partial report.
“Thank you Sen. Erwin for speaking the truth to confirm what I had thought all along was the real reason – bakit inamag at tuluyan nang napanis ang BRC partial report. Quo vadis, Philippine Senate?” Lacson, who headed the committee during the report’s drafting, wrote in a social media statement.
Tulfo, who assumed the chairmanship of the Blue Ribbon Committee following a Senate leadership transition on June 3, told journalist Jessica Soho that several colleagues were frustrated by his decision to sign the document while he was still serving as the panel’s vice chairman.
He noted that some senators attempted to sway him against signing, fearing that the report would implicate other members of the chamber.
Despite this pressure, Tulfo chose to proceed, stating that he could not simply look the other way.
“Hindi ko naman pwedeng ipikit-pikit,” Tulfo said.
He clarified that while he was prepared to challenge the report’s specifics on the Senate floor, he felt compelled to acknowledge the evidence presented.
“Sabi ko, nakakahiya sa tao,” Tulfo added, noting that he was joined in signing the report by Senator Raffy Tulfo, Lacson, and four other senators.
Although the seven signatures obtained fell short of the nine-signature threshold required for Lacson to formally sponsor the report for plenary debate, the document was successfully integrated into the Senate’s official archives. Lacson ensured this by presenting his “Chairman’s Progress Report” during a privilege speech delivered on May 5.
In that address, Lacson highlighted findings of “systematic and parasitic greed” within the flood control sector.
Furthermore, Lacson confirmed that all evidentiary materials collected throughout the panel’s eight-part hearing series have been endorsed to the Office of the Ombudsman to bolster ongoing preliminary investigations into the individuals involved in the scandal.