Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said the three senators linked to alleged irregularities in flood control projects will be given the opportunity to answer the accusations themselves once the Blue Ribbon Committee’s partial report is formally taken up in plenary.
He was referring to Senators Francis Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, and Joel Villanueva, who were cited in the report for further investigation and possible case buildup, can directly challenge the findings during Senate deliberations.
As of Wednesday, seven members of the committee have signed the partial report, with Senator Raffy Tulfo as the latest signatory. Other senators who have already endorsed the document include Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senators Francis Pangilinan, Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros, Erwin Tulfo, and Lacson himself.
At least nine signatures are required for the report to be elevated for sponsorship and debate on the Senate floor.
Lacson urged fellow lawmakers, including those named in the report, to sign the document to allow open discussion, stressing that the plenary proceedings will serve as the proper venue for them to defend themselves.
“If they sign the partial report and it is sponsored in plenary, that becomes their platform to defend themselves,” Lacson said. “During interpellation, they can refute specific portions and even move to strike them out.”
He added that he is open to revising the report if arguments raised during deliberations are supported by evidence.
“We want a healthy exchange so all sides are heard. The committee report is based on the evidence gathered during hearings,” he said.
Lacson also explained that he deferred questions from colleagues following his privilege speech earlier this week, saying he would address them once the report secures the required number of signatures and is formally presented in plenary.