With a key report stalled inside the Senate, Senator and Panfilo Lacson is taking an unusual route: bringing the findings directly to the public through a privilege speech next week.
Lacson, who chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, said he will deliver a “chairman’s progress report” as early as Monday or Tuesday, outlining developments in the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in multibillion-peso flood control projects.
The move comes as the committee’s partial report remains in limbo—short of the required nine signatures needed for formal submission to the Senate plenary.
“I owe it to the Filipino people to report what has happened after several hearings,” Lacson said in an interview, signaling frustration over what he described as deliberate inaction by some colleagues.
Report stuck, probe moves forward
The committee has conducted seven to eight hearings so far, examining documents, testimonies, and project records tied to flood mitigation programs. But despite this progress, the absence of enough signatories has prevented the report from being made public through official channels.
Lacson criticized the practice of withholding signatures, saying senators have the option to register reservations or dissent without blocking the report entirely.
Instead of waiting for consensus, the veteran lawmaker is opting to disclose key findings through his speech—potentially including documents and evidence not yet discussed during hearings.
He also plans to furnish copies of his report to the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman, both of which are conducting parallel inquiries into the issue.
High-profile names, limited reach
The probe has drawn attention for implicating prominent political figures, including former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who has already been invited twice by the committee but has yet to appear.
Lacson acknowledged the limits of Senate authority over members of the House of Representatives, citing inter-parliamentary courtesy that prevents compelling their attendance.
Still, he urged those named in the investigation to face the inquiry.
“Appearing before the committee gives them the opportunity to respond to the allegations,” he said. “If they choose not to, those accusations will remain unanswered.”
Another figure expected to be invited is former Ilocos Sur governor Luis Singson, who has yet to submit an affidavit despite earlier expressing willingness to testify.
Public disclosure as pressure tactic
By elevating the issue to a privilege speech, Lacson is effectively sidestepping procedural gridlock while increasing public visibility—and pressure—around the investigation.
The approach may also accelerate accountability, as privilege speeches are part of official Senate records and often set the stage for further debate, legislative action, or referrals to prosecutorial bodies.
Despite the delay in the report’s formal release, Lacson assured that the committee’s investigation is far from over, with additional hearings and invitations already in the pipeline.
For now, the Senate floor may become the next battleground in a probe that continues to stir questions over transparency, accountability, and the use of public funds in critical infrastructure projects.