Further hearings of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on the flood control mess are suspended until the panel’s partial report is reported out and sponsored in plenary by Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson.
Lacson said Wednesday that continuing hearings without reaching a logical conclusion in the form of a committee report that senators can debate, amend and adopt on the Senate floor would be pointless and contrary to Senate rules.
He also reminded Blue Ribbon panel members, particularly those from the minority bloc, of their duty including signing the report so it can be reported out, rather than calling for further hearings without fulfilling that responsibility.
“I do not expect any member of the minority to sign. They can offer all kinds of reasons all they want, wise or otherwise, not to fulfill their duties as members. It’s on them, not on the chairman,” he said.
“That said, I am suspending all hearings until I have reported out to sponsor in plenary the partial committee report at the very least,” he added.
In Filipino: Lacson, Sinuspinde ang Pagdinig ng Blue Ribbon sa Flood Control Hangga’t Hindi Niya Naiuulat at Naiisponsor ang Partial Report sa Plenaryo
Under the Senate’s rules, Lacson pointed out, all inquiries in aid of legislation should lead to a committee report containing recommended legislative actions.
As of Wednesday, Lacson said the partial committee report still needs at least five more signatures so it can be reported out on the floor. Sen. Imelda Josefa Remedios “Imee” Marcos was quoted as saying she would not sign the partial report until there is a “full investigation.”
“Our Senate rules are clear as they are basic. Thus, all inquiries in aid of legislation should end up in recommended legislative actions via a committee report, except the Blue Ribbon Committee which can also investigate and recommend the filing of criminal cases for malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance,” Lacson said.
Also, Lacson called out some minority members of the committee for pushing to invite personalities linked to the issue, such as former Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar, but failing to question him when he appeared before the panel.
“Bakit hindi nila matanong kung meron silang nalalaman sa sinasabi nilang pinagtatakpan o hindi tinatanong? Sila magtanong, member sila ng committee kung meron silang alam (Why did they not ask them what they knew when they appeared? They had the opportunity to ask as members of the committee),” Lacson said in an interview on DZBB Tuesday.
“Kung hearing tayo ng hearing at wala tayong logical conclusion na magkakaroon ng committee report na pagdedebatehan at aamyendahan ang ia-adopt sa floor, naka-open-ended lahat ng ginagawa natin (If we call hearing after hearing without reaching the logical conclusion of having a committee report that will be debated upon, amended and adopted on the floor, our efforts will end up open-ended),” he added.
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Lacson, Sinuspinde ang Pagdinig ng Blue Ribbon sa Flood Control Hangga’t Hindi Niya Naiuulat at Naiisponsor ang Partial Report sa Plenaryo
Suspendido ang mga susunod pang pagdinig ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hinggil sa isyu ng flood control hanggang sa maiulat at mai-sponsor sa plenaryo ang partial report ng komite ni Senate President Pro Tempore at Blue Ribbon chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson.
Ayon kay Lacson nitong Miyerkules, walang saysay ang pagpapatuloy ng mga pagdinig kung hindi ito hahantong sa isang lohikal na konklusyon sa anyo ng committee report na maaaring pagdebatehan, amyendahan, at pagtibayin ng mga senador sa plenaryo, alinsunod sa mga patakaran ng Senado.
Pinaalalahanan din niya ang mga miyembro ng Blue Ribbon panel, partikular ang mga mula sa minority bloc, sa kanilang tungkulin — kabilang ang paglagda sa ulat upang ito ay maiulat — sa halip na manawagan ng karagdagang pagdinig nang hindi ginagampanan ang nasabing responsibilidad.
“I do not expect any member of the minority to sign. They can offer all kinds of reasons all they want, wise or otherwise, not to fulfill their duties as members. It’s on them, not on the chairman,” ani Lacson.
“That said, I am suspending all hearings until I have reported out to sponsor in plenary the partial committee report at the very least,” dagdag niya.
Sa ilalim ng mga patakaran ng Senado, binigyang-diin ni Lacson na ang lahat ng mga imbestigasyon na “in aid of legislation” ay dapat humantong sa isang committee report na naglalaman ng mga inirerekomendang hakbang na lehislatibo.
Ani Lacson, kailangan pa rin ng limang lagda ang partial committee report bago ito ma-report out. Napaulat si Sen. Imelda Josefa Remedios “Imee” Marcos na nagsabing hindi siya pipirma sa partial report hangga’t walang “buo” na imbestigasyon.
“Our Senate rules are clear as they are basic. Thus, all inquiries in aid of legislation should end up in recommended legislative actions via a committee report, except the Blue Ribbon Committee which can also investigate and recommend the filing of criminal cases for malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance,” ani Lacson.
Tinuligsa rin ni Lacson ang ilang miyembro ng minority sa komite dahil sa pagtulak na imbitahan ang ilang personalidad na iniuugnay sa isyu, tulad ni dating Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar, ngunit hindi naman siya tinanong nang humarap sa pagdinig.
“Bakit hindi nila matanong kung meron silang nalalaman sa sinasabi nilang pinagtatakpan o hindi tinatanong? Sila magtanong, member sila ng committee kung meron silang alam?” ani Lacson sa panayam sa DZBB noong Martes.
“Kung hearing tayo ng hearing at wala tayong logical conclusion na magkakaroon ng committee report na pagdedebatehan at aamyendahan ang ia-adopt sa floor, naka-open-ended lahat ng ginagawa natin,” dagdag niya.
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