Lacson urges Imee: Attend flood control hearings amid probe 'confusion'

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson on Thursday called on Senator Imee Marcos to attend hearings on the flood control controversy after she said there was confusion if the blue ribbon committee's probe would continue.

Marcos said some senators were puzzled as there have been talks that the Lacson-chaired committee would no longer hold another hearing, and that it would come out with a partial report instead.

"Nalilito kami sa Senado at ang balita, 'di na raw magpapa-hearing ang blue ribbon kundi maglalabas na si Senator Lacson ng partial report. Baka may pinag-usapan sa majority caucus? Iba naman ang binalita, 'yung ipapatawag si Zaldy at Bonjing," Marcos said.

(We are confused in the Senate as there is word that the blue ribbon committee would no longer hold a hearing, and that Senator Lacson will just issue a partial report. Maybe something was discussed in the majority caucus? The information relayed is different, that Zaldy and Bonjing will be invited.)

The blue ribbon committee did not hold any flood control hearing this week. The date of the next hearing remains unknown as the committee awaits certain developments. 

Lacson, however, said resigned Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co and former Speaker Martin Romualdez would be invited to the next hearing of the committee.

He also advised Marcos to attend the committee hearings to avoid the supposed confusion. 

"Mag-attend sana siya ng BRC (blue ribbon committee) hearing para hindi siya malito, at makinig siya sa session hall para hindi siya naguguluhan. Also, magbasa siya ng mga announcements sa all-senators chat group para updated siya," Lacson said. 

(She should attend the BRC hearing and listen in the session hall so she wouldn't get confused. Also, she should read the announcements in the all-senators chat group so that she is updated.)

In a Facebook post, Marcos indicated that she had left the chat group of senators. 

"Ano ba ang laman ng groupchat? Ng session? Ng hearing? Hindi ba’t panggigipit lang sa kapwa senador?" Marcos said.

She said that senators are engaging in mudslinging "worse than the earthquake" instead of coming together to bring relief to the victims of natural disasters.

"Ayoko diyan," Marcos said.—VDV, GMA Integrated News