Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has criticized fellow senators for releasing a so-called “minority report” ahead of the official findings of the Senate blue ribbon committee investigating anomalous flood control projects.
Lacson, who chairs the anti-graft panel, emphasized:
“Iisa lang ang blue ribbon committee. There’s no such thing as a ‘minority bloc blue ribbon committee.’”
He described the early submission—allegedly prepared by Senate Deputy Minority Leader Rodante Marcoleta and signed by six of nine minority senators—as “inappropriate.”
The report, sent directly to Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on December 10, 2025, cited potential criminal liabilities of several lawmakers, including former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, although the official draft did not recommend charges against him.
Lacson stressed that minority inputs should go through the committee for possible incorporation:
“Ang dapat ginawa sana sa halip na ipinadala kay Senate President Sotto, idinaan nila sa blue ribbon, na ‘ito ang input namin.’”
He added that such inputs are only recognized if raised during plenary deliberations as amendments:
“Isama nila sa interpellation nila at sa amendments nila at kung katanggap-tanggap, tatanggapin ko at kung hindi, pagbobotohan yun sa floor.”
Lacson also noted that bypassing the committee process showed a lack of courtesy:
“Hindi yung pangungunahan at hindi man lang (nagbigay ng courtesy) para ipadala sa mismong mother committee ‘yong sinasabi nilang minority report. Doon lang ako medyo hindi sang-ayon.”