Ang tama ay IPAGLABAN. Ang mali ay LABANAN.
Mr. President, esteemed colleagues:
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way”. This 400-year-old proverb applies to everyone, bar none.
Since getting the required majority signatures for this representation to be able to report out on the floor, your BRC’s Partial Committee Report on the flood control saga seems doomed from the time we first routed the same last February 11, 2026, I am compelled to stand before you on a matter of personal and collective privilege, and for good reasons.
Efforts to keep the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s findings on the flood control scandal from reaching the public will fail because the public won’t forget the issue, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.
Lacson said this is why he has scheduled a privilege speech next week to present his Chairman’s Progress Report – after the panel’s partial report still could not get enough signatures to reach the plenary.
“Our people are angry and will not forget the issue. It will take decades before the issue is gone from the public’s memory. I called the flood control scandal ‘Napoles 2’ but this is much worse and it’s no laughing matter,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.
“As Blue Ribbon Chairman I owe it to the Filipino people to update them on what happened after seven to eight hearings. This is because many are not updated and especially because there are false narratives being spread that we are covering up for some persons and targeting others. And another compelling reason is that the partial committee report’s contents have been overtaken by events,” he added.
In Filipino: Lacson: Tangkang ‘Harangin’ ang Imbestigasyon sa Flood Control Mabibigo Dahil Hindi Ito Malilimutan ng Publiko
Continue reading “Lacson: Flood Control Probe Can’t be ‘Blocked’ because Public Won’t Forget”
The public deserves facts – not false narratives – on the flood control issue.
Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed this Friday as he finalized his move to bring the panel’s accomplishments so far to the plenary, amid questions raised by some lawmakers over the focus on partial findings.
Lacson said that while all members of the Blue Ribbon panel – both ex-officio and regular – are entitled to their opinions, he is determined to elevate the matter to the plenary, to keep the public informed and to counter misinformation.
“I am decided to bring up in plenary the contents and more of what we have accomplished so far after seven or eight committee hearings. There is an underlying reason for my decision – the Filipino people not only deserve to be updated but more so properly and accurately informed amid the false narratives being floated by some critics that we are being selective in going after the culprits in the flood control mess,” he said.
In Filipino: Lacson: Karapatan ng Publiko ang Katotohanan, Hindi Pekeng Naratibo sa Flood Control Probe
Continue reading “Lacson: Public Deserves Facts, Not False Narratives on Flood Control Probe”
The government has only itself to blame for the “lost opportunity” to take ex-Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co into custody and must now work double-time to bring him back, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Tuesday.
Lacson said Philippine authorities now face an embarrassing situation after failing to act promptly despite receiving timely information of Co’s apprehension by authorities in the Czech Republic.
“Simply put, it was a lost opportunity and our government has nobody to blame except itself. Failing to act with dispatch after having been timely informed of ex-Cong. Zaldy Co’s apprehension by the Czech authorities now puts the government in an embarrassing situation,” he said.
“Government must now exert extra effort and work double time to bring him back not only to redeem itself from this lapse but to show its sincerity and seriousness in bringing Co and his co-conspirators to justice,” he added.
In Filipino: Lacson: Gobyerno, Kailangang Magdoble Kayod para Makabawi sa ‘Pagkawala’ ni Zaldy Co
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
Continue reading “Lacson to Present Flood Control Progress Report in Privilege Speech”