Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson has rescheduled his privilege speech detailing the Blue Ribbon committee’s progress report on the flood control scandal. No explanation was provided for the cancellation. Former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson questioned the deferment of a Senate inquiry and threatened to take his allegations directly to the public.
In Manila, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson rescheduled his privilege speech, which was slated as the first item on yesterday's agenda. The speech would have detailed the Blue Ribbon committee’s progress report on the alleged “trillion-peso” flood control scandal. No explanation was given for the deferment.
Former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson questioned the postponement of a Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing during a press briefing. He said he was prepared to testify on March 16 but received a cancellation notice on the morning of the scheduled April 14 hearing due to the absence of a formal affidavit. “I went there ready to testify, then at 9 a.m. we received a letter saying the hearing was canceled because no affidavit was submitted,” Singson said.
Singson alleged involvement of former House speaker Martin Romualdez and President Marcos in the supposed irregularities, claiming the executive branch played a central role. “The executive is involved. The executive is the mastermind,” he said. He also questioned the silence of the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice, suggesting “there was already an agreement.”
Singson cited records from the Department of Public Works and Highways indicating questionable flood control projects, including alleged “ghost” or substandard works in Ilocos Norte, President Marcos’s hometown. “We are being fooled,” he warned, urging the public to scrutinize the issue.
