Metro Manila, Philippines – A previously leaked draft report of the Senate blue ribbon committee is under revision to recommend investigations, rather than charges, against senators implicated in the flood control scandal.
Senate President Pro Tempore and panel chairman Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said some members of the majority raised concerns about the report’s language during a meeting on Monday, February 9.
“My own colleagues in the majority nag-suggest sila [na] baka naman pwedeng i-soften na hindi ma-sacrifice yung intent, hindi mababago ang substance,” Lacson told reporters on Tuesday, Feb. 10.
[Translation: My own colleagues in the majority suggested that we could soften the wording without sacrificing the intent or changing the substance.]
“Ito ‘yung tumama sa sensitivity ng ibang mga kasama namin na pag charge, baka isipin ng mga tao, china-charge na sa korte,” he added.
[Translation: This touched on the sensitivities of some of our colleagues because when you say ‘charge,’ people might think that the individuals are already being charged in court.]
Lacson said the report is now being “corrected and finalized” and may be circulated for signing beginning Wednesday.
He said the revised report will recommend a preliminary or fact-finding investigation, or case build-up, against Senators Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, and Joel Villanueva. Possible offenses include plunder, graft, malversation, and bribery, among others, consistent with the possible charges listed in the initial draft.
Weakened report?
Lacson said the revisions do not weaken the committee recommendations, as these just sought to correct a technicality that did not sit well even with some members of the majority bloc.
”’Yun din naman talaga yung ibig sabihin doon sa [draft]. Hindi naman namin pwedeng irecommend sa court na i-charge sa court kasi only the DOJ (Department of Justice) and the Ombudsman are authorized to file the information for any person to be charged before the court,” Lacson said.
[Translation: That was really the meaning of the draft anyway. We cannot recommend that someone be charged in court because only the Department of Justice and the Ombudsman are authorized to file information for any person to be charged before the court.]
“So kinorrect lang namin ‘yun kasi ang ‘charge’ is generic ‘yan pero ang connotation, pagdating sa laymen, ordinary people like us, parang ang dating kaagad ‘charged,’ naka-charge ka sa court,” he added.
[Translation: So we simply corrected that, because while the word ‘charge’ is generic, its connotation to laymen – ordinary people like us – is that someone will already be formally charged in court.]
To recall, past high-profile investigations by the blue ribbon committee also resulted in recommendations for charges against government officials and employees. In the previous Congress, the committee, then chaired by former Senator Francis Tolentino, recommended graft and perjury charges against current and former officials of the Department of Education and the Department of Budget and Management Procurement Service over the procurement of allegedly overpriced laptops – a report that the Senate adopted in plenary.
‘That’s politics’
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, whose office has filed cases with the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan over the flood control scandal, weighed in on the controversial Senate draft report in a separate press conference.
”That’s politics… what is acceptable to all and to most is the most important thing,” Remulla said.
“Ang mahalaga… yung records sa blue ribbon committee saka lahat ng testimonies [What’s important are the records of the blue ribbon committee and all the testimonies],” he added.
Remulla said the blue ribbon committee recommendation will provide guidance and clues for the ombudsman investigation.
During the committee hearings, witnesses linked Escudero, Estrada, and Villanueva to alleged anomalous flood control projects and kickbacks. The three senators have denied the allegations.
The controversial draft report was seen as a factor in the attempt to unseat Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. Lacson, however, said the coup attempt did not influence the revisions, as only majority members were involved in the discussions.
At least 11 signatures, or a majority of blue ribbon committee members, are required for the report to be taken up in plenary.
“I hope and I am confident na maka-gather siya ng at least 11 signatures (I hope and I am confident that it will be able to gather at least 11 signatures),” Lacson said.
He said the committee will conduct one more hearing before wrapping up its probe.
