Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson will deliver a 'Chairman’s Progress Report' on the flood control scandal as a privilege speech when the Senate resumes session. In a dzMM interview, he said it may occur tomorrow or Tuesday and include new documents or evidence. He called the scandal worse than the pork barrel scam.
In a dzMM interview yesterday, Lacson said he owes the public an update after seven to eight Blue Ribbon committee hearings. “As Blue Ribbon chairman, I owe it to the Filipino people to update them on what happened... especially because there are false narratives being spread that we are covering up for some persons and targeting others,” he said.
His partial report remains unreleased due to lack of support, with only six senators signing, including himself and Senate President Vicente Sotto III. Nine signatures are needed from the 17-member committee to report it to the plenary. Signatories include Erwin Tulfo, Risa Hontiveros, Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino, but Juan Miguel Zubiri, Sherwin Gatchalian and JV Ejercito later withdrew theirs.
Lacson criticized Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano's remarks downplaying the partial report in favor of the 'whole and bigger picture.' “Why so much fuss about the partial [report] when we have the opportunity to have the whole and bigger picture?” Cayetano said. The committee also recommended probes and charges against Francis Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva, plus Ramon Revilla Jr., Zaldy Co and Mitch Cajayon-Uy.
“Our people are angry and will not forget the issue. It will take decades before the issue is gone from the public’s memory,” Lacson added.