Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Hearing on the Flood Control Mess

Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson’s opening statement at the hearing on the flood control project mess.

Sen. Lacson’s Opening Statement:

This hearing is hereby called to order.

First off, we want to put on record that this Committee will continue to be governed by the rules adopted during its organizational meeting last August 19, 2025. Director-General Quimbo, kindly conduct a roll call of the members of the Committee in the order of their arrival.

This hearing is a continuation of the motu proprio inquiry in aid of legislation conducted by this Committee on the anomalies surrounding flood control projects, and the two privilege speeches delivered by this representation entitled Flooded Gates of Corruption Parts 1 & 2.

In addition, this inquiry also covers the Privilege Speech delivered by our esteemed colleague, Senator Erwin Tulfo on Tuesday, 16 September 2025, regarding the irregularities in the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB).

Let there be no mistake: this Committee does not view any parallel efforts, such as privilege speeches, or investigations as a form of intrusion or competition. But rather, these initiatives must be treated as complementary efforts toward a singular goal: to safeguard the public trust and to protect the interests of the Filipino people.

That said, as Chairman of the committee, let me set the guidelines for an orderly proceeding:

First, we will strictly observe the 5-minute questioning by each Committee member. Such five minutes will not include the responses of the resource persons. Should there be interjections from any member, the same must be related to the preceding question.

Interjections will also be limited to one follow-up question or clarification; otherwise, any additional interjection shall be deducted from the time allotted to the original interpellator, who may opt or not to reclaim his or her time.

Second, I want to remind all our resource persons of Section 5(d), Article 6 of the Rules of the Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (Blue Ribbon), which reads:

Section 5. Examination of Witnesses
Paragraph (d): At every hearing, public or in an executive session, the witness shall be accorded the right of having a counsel of his own choice. The participation of counsel during the course of any hearing and while the witness is testifying shall be limited to advising said witness as to his legal rights. Counsel shall not be permitted to engage in oral argument with the Committee, but shall confine his activity to the area of legal advice to his client.

Relatedly, during the hearing in the House of Representatives last Sept 9, 2025, some very serious accusations were hurled against two of our colleagues namely Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva by former OIC District Engineer of Bulacan 1st DEO. And to accord those accused their basic rights to address such accusations and confront their accuser, the Chairman will give them that opportunity in this hearing. In this regard, we invited the owners of WJ Construction, Mrs Mina Elampara-Jose and Warren Jose to shed light on the issue at hand.

With that, let us proceed.

Director General, please recognize the resource persons invited today, and thereafter, kindly please administer the oath to those who have been invited for the first time in this inquiry.

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Sen. Lacson declares Pacifico ‘Curlee’ Discaya II in contempt: