Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Tuesday dared “critics” of the panel’s investigation into the flood control scandal – including on the so-called “cong-tractors” – to come forward and present proof of their claims.
Lacson particularly addressed the “critics” who use the issue of the supposed “67 cong-tractors,” or House members who are also contractors of government projects, as an excuse not to sign the panel’s partial committee report.
In his privilege speech where he detailed the progress of the panel’s investigation, Lacson also turned the tables on those who insisted on disregarding inter-parliamentary or inter-chamber courtesy in summoning lawmakers to the hearings.
“Kung mayroon mang may hawak ng impormasyon, o kung kaya nilang tukuyin ang iba pang mga cong-tractors na ito—katulad ng ginagawa ni Ombudsman Remulla— name them. If you have the evidence, present it. If you know the perpetrators, expose them (Whoever has information, or if they can name these cong-tractors like Ombudsman Remulla is doing, name them. If you have the evidence, present it. If you know the perpetrators, expose them),” Lacson said. “The Committee will provide the platform for you.”
In Filipino: Lacson, Hinamon ang mga Kritiko na Magprisinta ng Ebidensiya ng ‘Fake Narratives’ sa Blue Ribbon Panel
He set the record straight anew, that he never claimed to have the list of such cong-tractors, saying a then lawmaker merely mentioned the matter to him, without details.
Lacson also debunked repeated accusations that he does not want to invite former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez to the panel’s hearings, noting it already did so, but Romualdez did not attend.
He said the invitations to incumbent lawmakers were extended through the Office of the Speaker, in accordance with the established inter-chamber courtesy, to maintain the balance and mutual respect that define bicameral relations.
If inter-parliamentary courtesy is disregarded, he said the Senate may need to be prepared to allow its members to face investigations by the House of Representatives.
“Halimbawa, ma-isyuhan ng imbitasyon o subpoena ng ating kasama na si Senator Marcoleta ng House Committee on Justice, if hypothetically, mayroong imbestigasyon sa Kamara ukol sa kanyang diumano’y maanomalyang Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE). Handa po ba ang liderato ng Senado at si Senator Marcoleta na balewalain ang interparliamentary courtesy na umiiral mula’t sapol sa Kongreso (For example, if Sen. Rodante Marcoleta were hypothetically invited or subpoenaed by the House Committee on Justice over alleged anomalies in his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures, will the Senate leadership or Sen. Marcoleta be prepared to disregard inter-parliamentary courtesy)?” he said.
Lacson likewise noted that in June 2024, the House invited Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to its hearing on the last administration’s “war on drugs,” but dela Rosa did not attend due to the advice of then Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero as a matter of inter-chamber courtesy.
“That is why I always emphasize that this is not merely a matter of practice—it is grounded in principle,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lacson debunked as well the argument by some senators that they did not sign the partial report – which contained 400-plus pages – because they were looking for the original signed copy.
“Common sense lang sa isa nating kasamahan na pilit na naghahanap ng original signed copy at ginawa pang dahilan sa hindi niya pagpirma (It is a matter of common sense for our colleagues who insist on asking for the original signed copy, and made it an excuse not to sign the report),” he said.
Heavy Cross
Lacson said the Blue Ribbon Committee is a “heavy cross to bear, where every move is scrutinized, and every intention is questioned,” but added “we soldier on and forge ahead” despite critics – and trolls.
“To them, I say — I have built my career and my reputation over decades on a simple principle: that noise never overpowers duty, and intimidation never silences me,” he said. “If my track record of integrity is to be ignored today, then let the evidence speak where my history is silenced by the critics and the trolls.”
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Lacson, Hinamon ang mga Kritiko na Magprisinta ng Ebidensiya ng ‘Fake Narratives’ sa Blue Ribbon Panel
Hinamon ni Senate President Pro Tempore at Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Martes ang mga kritiko ng imbestigasyon ng komite sa flood control scandal — kabilang ang usapin ng tinaguriang “cong-tractors” — na humarap at magprisinta ng ebidensiya upang patunayan ang kanilang mga alegasyon.
Partikular na tinukoy ni Lacson ang mga kritikong ginagamit ang isyu ng umano’y “67 cong-tractors,” o mga miyembro ng Kamara na kontratista rin ng mga proyektong pang-gobyerno, bilang dahilan upang hindi pumirma sa partial committee report ng panel.
Sa kanyang privilege speech kung saan inilatag niya ang progreso ng imbestigasyon ng komite, binaliktad din ni Lacson ang mga naninindigang balewalain ang inter-parliamentary o inter-chamber courtesy sa pagpapatawag ng mga mambabatas sa mga pagdinig.
“Kung mayroon mang may hawak ng impormasyon, o kung kaya nilang tukuyin ang iba pang mga cong-tractors na ito—katulad ng ginagawa ni Ombudsman Remulla— name them. If you have the evidence, present it. If you know the perpetrators, expose them,” ani Lacson. “The Committee will provide the platform for you.”
Muling nilinaw ni Lacson na hindi niya kailanman inangking mayroon siyang listahan ng naturang mga cong-tractors, at sinabing isang dating mambabatas lamang ang nagbanggit sa kanya nito nang walang detalye.
Pinasinungalingan din ni Lacson ang paulit-ulit na akusasyon na ayaw niyang imbitahan si dating Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez sa mga pagdinig ng panel, at binigyang-diin na inimbitahan na ito, ngunit hindi ito dumalo.
Aniya, ang mga imbitasyon sa mga nakaupong miyembro ng Kamara ay ipinadaan sa Office of the Speaker, alinsunod sa umiiral na inter-chamber courtesy, upang mapanatili ang balanse at paggalang na bumubuo sa ugnayang bikameral.
Kung babalewalain ang inter-parliamentary courtesy, sinabi niyang dapat maging handa ang Senado na payagan ang mga miyembro nito na sumailalim sa imbestigasyon ng House of Representatives.
“Halimbawa, ma-isyuhan ng imbitasyon o subpoena ng ating kasama na si Senator Marcoleta ng House Committee on Justice, if hypothetically, mayroong imbestigasyon sa Kamara ukol sa kanyang diumano’y maanomalyang Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE). Handa po ba ang liderato ng Senado at si Senator Marcoleta na balewalain ang interparliamentary courtesy na umiiral mula’t sapol sa Kongreso?” tanong niya.
Binanggit din ni Lacson na noong Hunyo 2024, inimbitahan ng Kamara si Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa sa pagdinig nito hinggil sa “war on drugs” ng nakaraang administrasyon, ngunit hindi ito dumalo batay sa payo ni noo’y Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero bilang paggalang sa inter-chamber courtesy.
“That is why I always emphasize that this is not merely a matter of practice—it is grounded in principle,” ani Lacson.
Samantala, pinasinungalingan din ni Lacson ang argumento ng ilang senador na hindi sila pumirma sa partial report — na may mahigit 400 pahina — dahil hinahanap nila ang orihinal na kopyang pirmado.
“Common sense lang sa isa nating kasamahan na pilit na naghahanap ng original signed copy at ginawa pang dahilan sa hindi niya pagpirma,” aniya.
Mabigat na Pasanin
Ayon kay Lacson, ang Blue Ribbon Committee ay isang mabigat na krus, “where every move is scrutinized, and every intention is questioned,” ngunit iginiit pa rin niyang “we soldier on and forge ahead” sa kabila ng mga kritiko at trolls.
“To them, I say — I have built my career and my reputation over decades on a simple principle: that noise never overpowers duty, and intimidation never silences me,” aniya. “If my track record of integrity is to be ignored today, then let the evidence speak where my history is silenced by the critics and the trolls.”
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