Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson Speaks on Flood Control Report
PING LACSON – The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman speaks on the panel’s flood control report which mentioned some senators.
The Senate launched its own investigation about the flood control mess. While House Speaker Bojie Dy left the flood control probe in the hands of the ICI or the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee continued with its investigation.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson leads the Blue Ribbon Committee that has invited several individuals tagged in the flood control mess. Currently, controversial contractor Curlee Discaya even remains under the custody of the chamber.
Discaya was cited for contempt during a Senate flood control hearing. A Pasay court recently denied the writ of habeas corpus filed by the contractor.
However, not only contractors, officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and members of the House of Representatives were tagged in the flood control mess. Some senators were also mentioned in the flood control testimonies amid the investigation.
Among those who are accused of alleged involvement in the flood control mess are senators Chiz Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, and Joel Villanueva. Recently, Senate Pres. Tito Sotto confirmed that he is against the removal of the names of Estrada, Escudero, and Villanueva from the flood control report.
Initially, it was reported that the Senate recommends the filing of flood control charges against senators Jinggoy Estrada, Chiz Escudero, and Joel Villanueva. Shortly after a draft of the flood control report leaked, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson claimed that they changed the wording.
According to Lacson, the changes cited a call to investigate the three (3) senators. The flood control report needs the signature of at least 9 senators to get it to the plenary. Senators JV Ejercito, Migz Zubiri, and Sherwin Gatchalian withdrew their signatures after a draft of the supposed flood control report leaked on social media.
Recently, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson that four (4) senators have already signed the flood control report. According to him, 5 more signatures are needed to get the report to the plenary.
Senators JV Ejercito, Migz Zubiri, and Sherwin Gatchalian have yet to sign the flood control report again. Based on the report, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson claimed that other senators are still allegedly testing the waters before they will sign.
“Some are asking their fellow senators if they’ve signed already, having been skeptical not necessarily due to the content but are simply reading the room first – just as how the vote for Senate president works,” he expressed.
Previous, amid the mentioning of the name of the former House Speaker several times during flood control hearings, Lacson confirmed that the Senate will not recommend flood control probe against Congressman Martin Romualdez.