Tag: Senate Blue Ribbon Committee

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Lacson: Signing of BRC Partial Report Should be Guided by Sense of Duty, Not Pakikisama

The signing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s partial report on the flood control mess should be guided by a sense of duty and not “pakikisama” or peer pressure, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson emphasized Saturday.

Lacson said senators must be swayed not by political affiliations or bloc lines but by their responsibilities as members of the Blue Ribbon committee when deciding whether to sign the partial report.

“For me, it doesn’t matter if you are in the majority or minority bloc, so long as you follow what is right. Otherwise, you will be blind if you claim that you won’t sign something from the majority because you are from the minority,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DWIZ radio.

“If you are a senator, you must have your own convictions, not follow the convictions of your colleagues,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Tungkulin, Hindi Pakikisama, ang Gabay sa Paglagda sa BRC Partial Flood Control Report

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Lacson: Zaldy Co’s Potential BRC Appearance Could Boost Support for Partial Report

The possible appearance of arrested ex-Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee could prompt more senators to sign the panel’s partial report, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said late Friday.

Lacson said the decision now rests with the committee members, especially those who have been calling for the hearings to resume and for Co to be questioned.

“Co’s arrest is a good development because now it’s up to them to ensure that the hearings resume. It’s on them – do they want the hearings to continue and for Co to be grilled? The burden is now on them to sign the partial report,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on Storycon on One News.

In Filipino: Lacson: Posibleng Pagharap ni Zaldy Co sa BRC, Maaaring Magpalakas ng Suporta sa Partial Report

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Lacson Plans to Invite Co, Ex-Soldiers to Next Blue Ribbon Hearing

Once its partial committee report on the flood control scandal is formally filed, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee may invite to its next hearing captured former Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co – along with Orly Guteza and the former soldiers who claimed to have delivered P805 billion in alleged kickbacks from anomalous flood projects to various personalities on Co’s orders.

Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon panel Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Friday that the testimonies of Guteza and the ex-soldiers are “interconnected” with Co.

“Once Co is in the Philippines and the court allows it, I plan to have him attend the hearing along with Guteza and the ex-soldiers so we will find out who is truthful, who is telling half-truths, and who is lying,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.

In Filipino: Lacson Plano Imbitahan si Co, Mga Ex-Sundalo sa Susunod na Blue Ribbon Hearing

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Lacson: Support Builds for Blue Ribbon Flood Control Partial Report as 2 Sign, More Signal Backing

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

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Lacson Suspends Blue Ribbon Flood Control Hearings Pending His Sponsorship of Partial Committee Report in Plenary

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

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