SP Sotto, Erwin Tulfo signed partial flood control report — Lacson

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said Thursday that the Blue Ribbon Committee’s partial report on the flood control controversy has gathered six signatures so far, after two more senators recently signed. 

Lacson, chairman of the committee, said that Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and committee vice chairperson Senator Erwin Tulfo signed the partial report as of Wednesday. 

He noted that “at least two others” also expressed willingness to sign the report. 

At least nine signatures are needed on the report before it can be filed and reported out on the floor where it can be debated, amended, and possibly adopted.

Aside from Lacson, Sotto, and the younger Tulfo, Senators Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros, and Kiko Pangilinan have also affixed their signatures. 

Lacson also explained why other members of the majority bloc have not yet signed the partial report. 

“One of the reasons why the other majority members have not signed or at least reluctant to do so is that they were being 'requested' by some of their former majority bloc colleagues,” he said in a statement.

Nevertheless, the committee chairman maintained that he would not beg fellow Blue Ribbon members to sign the partial report out of respect for their own decisions. 

“I told [Senate President] Sotto earlier that I won’t plead with our fellow BRC members to affix their signatures on the partial committee report because I respect their individual decisions, whatever reasons they have in refusing to sign. Hence, SP Sotto promised to help in that regard," he said.

Lacson earlier suspended further hearings on the flood control anomalies until the panel submits and sponsors the partial committee report.

To recall, Lacson said that the Blue Ribbon report is poised to recommend the filing of criminal and administrative charges against senators and former lawmakers in connection with its investigation into anomalous flood control projects.

This includes Senators Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Joel Villanueva, and Jinggoy Estrada, as well as former Senator Bong Revilla, former Ako Bicol Party-List Representative Zaldy Co, and former Caloocan Representative Mitch Cajayon-Uy. — RSJ, GMA News