Sen. Robin Padilla Speaks on Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s Flood Control Report
ROBIN PADILLA – The Senator said that he will not also sign the flood control report if Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano will not.
The draft and partial report of the flood control investigation of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee previously leaked and gathered different opinions. The panel is led by Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson and they invited several former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and contractors for the flood control probe.
Amid the leaked alleged copy of the flood control report, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson previously confirmed that the Blue Ribbon may recommend flood control charges against senators Chiz Escudero, Joel Villanueva, and Jinggoy Estrada. His claim was followed by an alleged Senate “coup”.
Senate Pres. Tito Sotto then claimed that one of the alleged reasons over the supposed Senate ‘coup’ is allegedly presidential sister and Sen. Imee Marcos’ removal from the leadership of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He also claimed that some of his colleagues might not like him because he is too strict when it comes to budget insertions.
Sen. Imee Marcos reacted to the claim of Senate Pres. Tito Sotto and said the senators could allegedly no longer rely to the Senate to protect and defend them amid the chamber being supposedly the target of flood control investigations. According to her, she is actually grateful to the Senate President for allowing her to remain in the committee’s head despite her being part of the minority bloc.
Previously, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson revealed that there’s a change from the recommendation of filing of charges to a recommendation of a preliminary investigation versus Escudero, Villanueva, and Estrada in the flood control report of the Blue Ribbon Committee. He stressed that only the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman can decide to file charges against the senators.
Amid the issue over the flood control report of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, minority Sen. Robin Padilla bared his condition for his signature to the report. Based on News5, the actor-turned-Senator claimed that he will not sign the report if Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano will decline from signing it.
Sen. Robin Padilla claimed that the Senate Minority Bloc will stand by their own flood control report. Based on the post, he stressed that they should unite under the decision of Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano.
“Siyempre, kailangan solid kami sa minority ‘di ba? Kung ano ‘yung desisyon ng aming Minority Floor Leader, susunod kami,” the Senator claimed.
Previously, amid the accusations against the former House Speaker, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson confirmed that the Senate panel will not recommend a flood control probe versus former Speaker Martin Romualdez.