Blue Ribbon Committee Hearing on Flood Control Projects (Nov. 14, 2025)

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson’s Opening Statement at the Hearing:

Before we proceed to the substantive discussions, the Committee will deal first with some administrative matters for the record:

All members of the House of Representatives implicated by the Discaya spouses, as well as Cong. Martin Romualdez and Cong. Eric Yap cited by Mr. Orly Guteza, were invited to attend this hearing. Incumbent Congressmen were invited through a letter dated 12 November 2025 to Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy of the House of Representatives.

According to Speaker Dy, the members will not be appearing before the Committee today in order to avoid any possible prejudice to the ongoing investigation and eventual findings of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), given that the invited members have already submitted themselves to its jurisdiction and proceedings.

Mr. Zaldy Co was similarly invited to appear before this Committee—however, his lawyer, Atty. Ruy Alberto Rondain, replied that Mr. Co is unable to attend, citing that he is still overseas due to medical reasons.

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More Names Named: Hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Flood Control Projects

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee resumed on Sept. 25, 2025 its hearing on the corruption behind substandard and ghost flood control projects.

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Sen. Lacson’s Abstention and Manifestations on VP Duterte Impeachment

Without the words “immediately executory” and the phrase on 25 July 2025 which held among others that the Articles of Impeachment are null and void ab initio and that the Senate did not acquire jurisdiction over the same, I would have voted in favor of the amended motion because I have always maintained that we must respect and not disobey the Supreme Court.

But since there is still a pending motion for reconsideration filed by the House of Representatives through the Solicitor General, I believe that the July 25 ruling is by no means final, until it rules on the motion for reconsideration with finality.

That being said, I would rather wait, not preempt, the final ruling of the High Court.

It is for these reasons that I abstain, Mr. President.

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Lacson Accepts Electoral Reforms Committee Chairmanship, to Pursue Passage of Anti-Political Dynasty Bill

The passage of the Anti-Political Dynasty Act will be the priority of Sen. Panfilio “Ping” M. Lacson after he accepted on Wednesday the chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation.

Lacson said the committee chairmanship was offered by Senate President Francis Escudero through Senate minority leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.

“I will schedule as soon as possible my Anti-Political Dynasty bill and another bill also referred to that committee,” he said.

In Filipino: Lacson, Mamumuno sa Electoral Reforms Committee, Isusulong ang Anti-Political Dynasty Bill

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Ping Lacson Disowns Documents on Senate President’s “Budget Insertion”

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Saturday disowned the documents that supposedly linked Senate President Francis Escudero to P142.7 billion in insertions in the 2025 national budget.

Lacson said the documents could not have come from him as his research on the national budget for 2025 and earlier years is still ongoing.

“I can clearly speak for myself… The supposed documents on the insertions did not come from me because my research on the 2025 budget is still ongoing. We have not reached the point where we have scrutinized the budget item for item,” he said in Filipino in an interview on DWIZ radio, when asked about the issue.

In Filipino: Ping Lacson: Hindi Sa Akin Galing ang Dokumento sa “Budget Insertion” ni SP Escudero

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