Senator Lacson eyes chairman’s report to move flood probe forward

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson is preparing a chairman’s progress report on the alleged flood control scandal to move the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation forward and to support the buildup of a case by the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman.

In a radio interview, Lacson said the move comes as the committee has yet to finalize even a partial report due to insufficient signatures.

“We have drafted a Chairman's Progress Report. I cannot report out the partial committee report on the Senate floor due to the lack of needed signatures. So to get it over with, I have thought of drafting the Chairman's Progress Report, which has a precedent,” he said.

Lacson stressed that the probe needs to move, noting the number of hearings already conducted.

“We owe it to the Filipino people. The Blue Ribbon Committee has conducted eight hearings on the matter but has yet to come up with even a partial report,” he added.

He explained that the chairman’s progress report will include the findings from the draft partial report, along with evidence and visual materials to help the public better understand the case once presented in plenary.

The senator said he remains open to securing additional signatures for the partial report so it can still be formally sponsored, debated, and adopted on the Senate floor.

“Rendering the chairman's progress report is as good as sponsoring the partial report. So we can resume hearings once the chairman's progress report is rendered because the contents of the partial report become a matter of public record,” he said.

Lacson also revealed that the Ombudsman has informally requested a copy of the committee’s findings, though this remains under study pending formal procedures.

“We must help each other and integrate our efforts so the investigation will be clearer,” Lacson said.

The senator also said he intends to invite former House Speaker Martin Romualdez to the next hearing, following remarks made in a recent video statement.

“So long as there are aspects to the issue that his participation is needed - and it seems that way because he needs to clarify some of his recent statements - we'll keep inviting him,” he said.

Lacson added that it would be beneficial for Romualdez to face former Rep. Elizaldy Co and former soldiers who alleged they delivered kickbacks tied to flood control projects.

“I am not a judge but I have experience in investigation and intelligence. It is important to observe their demeanor. Assuming Romualdez attends along with Co and some ex-soldiers including (Orly) Guteza, we can ask them questions and gauge who is telling the truth and who is lying,” he said.

Lacson said the committee would follow the evidence even if the investigation reaches higher officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

He, however, noted that claims linking the President to alleged kickbacks lack evidentiary value since the allegations were not made under oath.