“How will I respect a document that symbolizes disrespect towards the Blue Ribbon Committee and the entire Senate?”
Senate President Pro Tempore and Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson thus scored the so-called “minority report” on the flood control scandal, as he stressed that there is only one Blue Ribbon Committee that is investigating the issue.
Lacson said that under the Rules of the Senate, a committee report can be reported out only by the Blue Ribbon Committee, and after it is signed by majority of the committee’s members – not by just six of nine members of the minority bloc.
“Respect begets respect. How will I as Chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee treat with respect a document that symbolizes disrespect toward the Blue Ribbon Committee and the entire Senate both of which they are members?” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM.
“So there is no other place for that ‘minority report’ but the trash bin,” he added.
In Filipino: Lacson sa Flood Control ‘Minority Report’: Respect Begets Respect
When asked in a separate interview on GTV’s Balitanghali if he read the report, Lacson said: “No, I did not.”
Lacson was referring to the 576-page “report” that the minority bloc presented to Senate media last Tuesday. The report had been submitted to the Office of the Senate President last Dec. 10 and first presented to the media in a forum last Dec. 11.
In a separate interview on DZBB, Lacson pointed out that the minority bloc has members who are veteran lawmakers and they should know that if they want to give their inputs, they can do so by proposing amendments to the Blue Ribbon Committee’s Committee Report.
“They can introduce amendments to the committee report that will be adopted on the floor – not come up with their own version of a ‘report’. Is that not a show of disrespect?” he said.
Lacson questioned as well some of the minority members’ repeated criticisms and belittling of the Blue Ribbon Committee’s hearings that he presided, noting that they are also members of the committee and could actually attend and ask questions.
“They are members of the committee but now they are nitpicking our hearings. Being members, why don’t they just attend and show the evidence they claim to have?” he said.
“It is not wrong to criticize but it should be constructive, and not meant to undermine the Committee,” he added.
Lacson reiterated as well that the evidence gathered through the Blue Ribbon Committee’s hearings helped greatly in building cases against several personalities, many of whom now face cases in court.
“So the Blue Ribbon Committee was a great help in addressing the issue. For some to belittle it, that is an insult to the entire Senate,” he said.
Media Stunt
When asked to comment on Senate President Vicente Sotto III’s observation that the “minority report” was made for media, Lacson agreed. “That is the only purpose of the ‘report,'” he said.
“That ‘minority report’ is not worth discussing because it is not in the rules,” Lacson added.
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Lacson sa Flood Control ‘Minority Report’: Respect Begets Respect
“How will I respect a document that symbolizes disrespect towards the Blue Ribbon Committee and the entire Senate?”
Ito ang naging bwelta ni Senate President Pro Tempore at Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson sa “minority report” hinggil sa flood control scandal, kasabay ng pagbibigay-diin na iisang Blue Ribbon Committee lamang ang nag-iimbestiga sa isyu.
Giit ni Lacson na sa ilalim ng Rules ng Senado, ang isang committee report ay maaari lamang ilabas ng Blue Ribbon Committee matapos itong pirmahan ng mayorya ng mga miyembro ng komite — at hindi ng anim lamang sa siyam na miyembro ng minority bloc.
“Respect begets respect. Papaano ko itatrato with respect ang isang dokumento that symbolizes disrespect toward the Blue Ribbon Committee and the entire Senate?” aniya sa isang panayam sa DZMM.
“So ang bagsak noon, sa basurahan,” dagdag niya.
Nang tinanong sa isa pang panayam sa Balitanghali ng GTV kung nabasa niya ang report, sabi niya: “Wala, hindi ko binabasa.”
Tinutukoy ni Lacson ang 576-pahinang “ulat” na iniharap ng minority bloc sa Senate media nitong Martes. Ang ulat ay naisumite na sa Office of the Senate President Disyembre 10 at unang iniharap sa media sa isang forum noong Disyembre 11.
Sa hiwalay na panayam sa DZBB, ipinunto ni Lacson na ang minority bloc ay may mga miyembrong beteranong mambabatas at dapat nilang malaman na kung nais nilang magbigay ng kanilang mga input, maaari nila itong gawin sa pamamagitan ng pagmumungkahi ng amendments sa Committee Report ng Blue Ribbon Committee.
“Doon nila ipasok ang gusto nila ipasok sa committee report na aming ia-adopt sa floor. Hindi ang gagawa sila uunahan pa nila ang komite. Di ba disrespect yan, di ba pambabastos yan?” aniya.
Kinuwestiyon din ni Lacson ang paulit-ulit na pagpuna at minaliit na pagtingin ng ilang miyembro ng minorya sa mga hearing ng Blue Ribbon Committee na kanyang pinangunahan, at binanggit na sila ay mga miyembro rin ng komite at maaari namang dumalo, makilahok at magtanong.
“Nandiyan din naman sila, member sila. Ngayon pinupuna nila bakit ganito bakit ganoon. E member sila bakit hindi sila mag-attend at sila maglabas ng sinasabi nilang mga ebidensya?” saad niya.
“Okay mag-criticize pero ilagay sa ayos, sa constructive. Hindi paninira lang,” dagdag niya.
Muling binigyang-diin ni Lacson na ang mga ebidensyang nakalap sa pamamagitan ng mga hearing ng Blue Ribbon Committee ay malaki ang naitulong sa pagbuo ng mga kaso laban sa ilang personalidad, na marami sa kanila ay nahaharap na ngayon sa mga kaso sa korte.
“So malaki ang tulong ng Blue Ribbon Committee at para maliitin ito, insulto sa buong Senado,” aniya.
Media Stunt
Nang hingan ng komento tungkol sa obserbasyon ni Senate President Vicente Sotto III na ang “minority report” ay ginawa para lamang sa media, sumang-ayon si Lacson. “That is the only purpose of the ‘report,'” sabi niya.
“That ‘minority report’ is not worth discussing because it is not in the rules,” dagdag pa ni Lacson.
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