Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is set to present the panel’s Chairman’s Progress Report on the flood control scandal in a privilege speech when the Senate resumes session in May.
Lacson said this will pave the way for the resumption of hearings on the flood control mess, as the partial committee report has yet to secure the needed signatures for filing and sponsorship in plenary.
“I will present it via a privilege speech entitled ‘The Chairman’s FCP Progress Report.’ At least kung privilege speech, since ayaw magpirma ng ibang members, I don’t have to consult them (Other committee members do not seem keen on signing the partial report. If I present it via a privilege speech, I would not need to consult them),” he said.
In Filipino: Lacson, Maghahain ng Flood Control Progress Report sa Privilege Speech
He added that once delivered in plenary, the Chairman’s Progress Report – which includes the contents of the partial report – may be shared with the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman.
In contrast, he said the partial committee report still has six signatures as of Monday – three short of the nine needed for it to be filed and sponsored.
“I’ll be able to share the report and our recommendations with the Ombudsman since magiging public record na yan after I have presented it by way of a privilege speech. Sayang kasi – para mapakinabangan ang evidence kesa mapanis lang (I’ll be able to share the report and recommendations with the Ombudsman since it would become a public record after I present it as a privilege speech. It would be a waste if the evidence in the progress report could not be used because it did not get enough signatures),” Lacson said.
Meanwhile, Lacson corrected Sen. Rodante Marcoleta over his calls to invite former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez to the panel’s hearings on the flood control controversy.
He stressed the panel already invited Romualdez to its hearings twice, following the time-honored tradition of inter-parliamentary courtesy between it and the House of Representatives – but Romualdez did not show up.
“Mula pa nung unang nagbukas ang Philippine Congress under a bicameral system, umiiral na ang inter-parliamentary courtesy between the two chambers (Ever since the Philippine Congress opened under a bicameral system, there has been inter-parliamentary courtesy between the two chambers),” he said, adding this is why the Blue Ribbon Committee coursed its invitations to congressmen to appear and testify before its committee hearings through the Office of the Speaker.
He said the only “exception” is when House members voluntarily appear before Senate hearings, as in the cases of Reps. Tobias Tiangco and Leandro Leviste, who appeared before the Blue Ribbon panel.
Lacson cited as well the voluntary appearance of former Rep. Vicente Veloso, who appeared before a hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Illegal Drugs.
“Kaya nga time-honored tradition ang tawag. Hindi pa rin ba pumapasok sa bumbunan niya yun (That’s why inter-parliamentary courtesy is considered a time-honored tradition. Has that not sunk in the crown of his head)?” he added.
Lacson was referring to Marcoleta’s claims in a radio interview urging the panel to invite Romualdez, saying the former Speaker is “ready to talk” on the flood control mess.
Also, Lacson pointed out earlier that Romualdez should have heeded the Blue Ribbon panel’s invitations for him to attend its hearings last Nov. 14 and Jan. 19, but Romualdez did not show up.
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Lacson, Maghahain ng Flood Control Progress Report sa Privilege Speech
Idadaan ni Senate President Pro Tempore at Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson sa privilege speech ang Chairman’s Progress Report hinggil sa flood control scandal, kapag nag-resume ang sesyon ng Senado sa Mayo.
Ani Lacson, magsisilbi itong daan para maipagpatuloy ang mga pagdinig sa isyu ng flood control, dahil hindi pa rin nakukumpleto ang kinakailangang pirma para maihain at ma-sponsor sa plenaryo ang partial committee report.
“I will present it via a privilege speech entitled ‘The Chairman’s FCP Progress Report.’ At least kung privilege speech, since ayaw magpirma ng ibang members, I don’t have to consult them,” aniya.
Dagdag niya, kapag naihain na ito sa plenaryo, ang Chairman’s Progress Report — na kinapapalooban ng laman ng partial report — ay maaari nang ibahagi sa Department of Justice at Office of the Ombudsman.
Sa kasalukuyan, may anim pa lamang na pirma ang partial committee report hanggang Lunes — kulang ng tatlo sa siyam na kailangan para ito ay maihain at ma-sponsor.
“I’ll be able to share the report and our recommendations with the Ombudsman since magiging public record na yan after I have presented it by way of a privilege speech. Sayang kasi – para mapakinabangan ang evidence kesa mapanis lang,” ani Lacson.
Samantala, itinuwid din ni Lacson si Sen. Rodante Marcoleta kaugnay ng panawagan nitong imbitahan si dating Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez sa mga pagdinig ng panel hinggil sa flood control controversy.
Iginiit ni Lacson na dalawang beses nang inimbitahan si Romualdez sa mga pagdinig ng komite, alinsunod sa matagal nang umiiral na tradisyon ng inter-parliamentary courtesy sa pagitan ng Senado at ng House of Representatives—ngunit hindi ito dumalo.
“Mula pa nung unang nagbukas ang Philippine Congress under a bicameral system, umiiral na ang inter-parliamentary courtesy between the two chambers,” aniya. Dagdag niya, ito ang dahilan kung bakit dinaan ng komite sa Office of the Speaker ang imbitasyon sa mga incumbent na myembro ng Kamara.
Aniya, ang tanging “exception” ay kapag kusang dumadalo ang mga miyembro ng Kamara sa mga pagdinig ng Senado, tulad ng mga kaso nina Reps. Tobias Tiangco at Leandro Leviste na humarap sa Blue Ribbon panel.
Binanggit din ni Lacson ang boluntaryong pagdalo ng dating Rep. Vicente Veloso sa isang pagdinig ng Senate Committee on Public Order and Illegal Drugs.
“Kaya nga time-honored tradition ang tawag. Hindi pa rin ba pumapasok sa bumbunan niya yun?” aniya.
Tinutukoy ni Lacson ang pahayag ni Marcoleta sa isang panayam sa radyo na nananawagang imbitahan si Romualdez, at sinabing handa nang magsalita ang dating Speaker tungkol sa isyu ng flood control.
Nauna ring binigyang-diin ni Lacson na dapat sana’y tumugon si Romualdez sa mga imbitasyon ng Blue Ribbon panel noong Nob. 14 at Enero 19, ngunit hindi ito dumalo sa alinman sa mga ito.
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