Senate Blue Ribbon suspends flood control hearings pending committee report

Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairperson Panfilo Lacson suspended further hearings on the flood control anomalies until the panel submits and sponsors a partial committee report.

In a statement on Wednesday, Lacson said continuing hearings without reaching a formal report would be “pointless” and inconsistent with Senate rules, which require inquiries in aid of legislation to result in actionable recommendations. 

“That said, I am suspending all hearings until I have reported out to sponsor in plenary the partial committee report at the very least,” Lacson said. 

He stressed committee investigations should culminate in a report that senators can debate, amend, and adopt on the Senate floor.

The senator also called on members of the panel, particularly from the minority bloc, to fulfill their responsibilities by signing the report instead of pushing for additional hearings.

“I do not expect any member of the minority to sign… It’s on them, not on the chairman,” he said. 

As of Wednesday, Lacson said the partial committee report still lacks at least five signatures needed for it to be reported out in plenary. 

Senator Imee Marcos, meanwhile, was quoted as saying she would not sign the partial report until a “full investigation” is conducted.

Lacson also criticized some minority lawmakers for allegedly failing to question key resource persons during previous hearings, despite calling for their appearance.

“Bakit hindi nila matanong kung meron silang nalalaman? Sila magtanong, member sila ng committee kung meron silang alam,” he said in an interview.

(Why can’t they ask if they knew something? They are members of the committee, they could have asked if they have information.)

He warned that holding repeated hearings without arriving at a conclusion could leave the inquiry open-ended.

“Kung hearing tayo ng hearing… naka-open-ended lahat ng ginagawa natin,” he added.

(If we keep holding hearings without reaching a conclusion, everything we do remains open-ended.)

Under Senate rules, Lacson noted, investigations must lead to recommended legislative actions through a committee report, although the Blue Ribbon Committee may also recommend the filing of criminal cases when warranted. —RF, GMA News