Support is building for the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s partial committee report on the flood control mess, with at least two more senators signing, and others signaling willingness to do so, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Thursday.
Lacson said that as of Wednesday, Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Blue Ribbon vice chairman Erwin Tulfo signed the partial report, while “at least two others” hinted they would do the same.
“As of yesterday, two other colleagues also signed – Senate President Sotto as ex-officio and Sen. Erwin Tulfo, BRC Vice Chairman. At least two others have indicated their willingness to sign,” he said.
“One of the reasons why the other majority members have not signed or at least reluctant to do so is that they were being ‘requested’ by some of their former majority bloc colleagues,” he added.
In Filipino: Lacson: 2 Lumagda, Iba Pa Nagpahiwatig ng Suporta sa Flood Control Partial Report
Lacson said he would not plead with fellow Blue Ribbon members to sign the partial report out of respect for their individual decisions, but noted that Sotto offered to help.
“I told SP Sotto earlier that I won’t plead with our fellow BRC members to affix their signatures on the partial committee report because I respect their individual decisions, whatever reasons they have in refusing to sign. Hence, SP Sotto promised to help in that regard,” he said.
With at least six signatures so far, the partial report needs at least three more for it to be filed and reported out on the floor where it can be debated upon, amended and adopted.
On Wednesday, Lacson said he suspended further hearings of the committee on the flood control mess until he reports out and sponsors the partial committee report in plenary.
He said 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.
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Lacson: 2 Lumagda, Iba Pa Nagpahiwatig ng Suporta sa Flood Control Partial Report
Lumalakas ang suporta para sa partial committee report ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hinggil sa flood control issue, matapos lumagda ang dalawa pang senador at may iba pang nagpapahiwatig na pipirma din sila, ayon kay Senate President Pro Tempore at Blue Ribbon chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson ngayong Huwebes.
Sinabi ni Lacson na hanggang Miyerkules, lumagda na sa partial report si Senate President Vicente Sotto III at Blue Ribbon vice chairman Erwin Tulfo, habang hindi bababa sa dalawa pa ang nagpahiwatig na pipirma din.
“As of yesterday, two other colleagues also signed – Senate President Sotto as ex-officio and Sen. Erwin Tulfo, BRC Vice Chairman. At least two others have indicated their willingness to sign,” ani Lacson.
“One of the reasons why the other majority members have not signed or at least reluctant to do so is that they were being ‘requested’ by some of their former majority bloc colleagues,” dagdag niya.
Ani Lacson, bagama’t hindi niya pipilitin ang kapwa miyembro sa Blue Ribbon na lumagda sa partial report bilang paggalang sa kanilang mga indibidwal na desisyon, nag-alok si Sotto na tumulong.
“I told SP Sotto earlier that I won’t plead with our fellow BRC members to affix their signatures on the partial committee report because I respect their individual decisions, whatever reasons they have in refusing to sign. Hence, SP Sotto promised to help in that regard,” aniya.
Sa ngayon, hindi bababa sa anim na ang lagda sa partial report, at kailangan pa ng tatlo upang ito ay maihain at maipresenta sa plenaryo, kung saan maaari itong pagdebatehan, amyendahan, at pagtibayin.
Noong Miyerkules, sinabi ni Lacson na sinuspinde niya ang mga susunod pang pagdinig ng komite hinggil sa flood control hanggang maipresenta at maisponsor niya ang partial committee report sa plenaryo.
Aniya, ang pagpapatuloy ng mga pagdinig nang hindi umaabot sa lohikal na konklusyon sa anyo ng isang committee report—na maaaring pagdebatehan, amyendahan, at pagtibayin sa Senado—ay magiging walang saysay at salungat sa mga tuntunin ng Senado.
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