Senate to reelect Lacson as blue ribbon chair, expand anomalies probe - Sotto

Metro Manila, Philippines - Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson will retake the chairmanship of the Senate blue ribbon committee investigating the flood control corruption scandal, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said, emphasizing that the high-profile probe will continue and expand to cover other government anomalies.

Lacson resigned from the post earlier this month, citing the disappointment of some majority senators over how he handled the flood control investigation.

Sotto earlier told reporters there have been discussions since Lacson’s resignation, and the senator has been made aware of the “clamor” from colleagues and the public for him to return. He confirmed that Lacson has agreed to retake the chairmanship.

At the Kapihan sa Manila Bay media forum on Wednesday, Oct. 22, Sotto said Lacson’s reinstatement will be formalized when Congress resumes session on Nov. 10, following a month-long break.

“By November 10, we will reelect or ask Sen Lacson to retake [the chairmanship],” Sotto said.

“And as of our last conversation, he has agreed. Alam niyang kailangang kailangan na [He knows it is badly needed],” he said, adding that Lacson has “unfinished business” as blue ribbon chairman.

Senator Erwin Tulfo, who temporarily replaced Lacson as acting chair, earlier said the committee will hold a few more hearings on flood control anomalies before shifting its focus to alleged irregularities in farm-to-market road projects.

Sotto emphasized that the committee will continue investigating any accountability issues involving public offices.

“Tuloy ang blue ribbon into other anomalous transactions or any accountability of any public office. That is precisely the reason that the blue ribbon [was created] to look at the accountability of public officials,” he said.

[Translation: The blue ribbon will continue looking into other anomalous transactions or any accountability of any public office. That’s precisely why it exists — to ensure public officials are held accountable.]

Lacson last presided over the committee’s sixth hearing on the flood control scandal on Sept. 25. A date for the seventh hearing has yet to be announced.

Apart from the Senate inquiry, other government bodies — including the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) — are conducting separate investigations into the multi-billion peso corruption scandal, which involves government officials and contractors who allegedly pocketed funds from flood control projects.