Lacson, Cayetano disagree over partial Blue Ribbon report 

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson and Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano expressed differing views about the partial committee report of the Blue Ribbon Committee regarding its flood control investigation. 

Cayetano earlier questioned the attention being given to the partial committee report, saying it has not yet revealed the whole truth about the flood control controversy. 

He also raised concerns about how the issue is being framed and why only select individuals were supposedly invited to testify during the hearings. 

“Ito lang ang tanong ko (my only question is this)—why so much fuss about the partial [report] when we have the opportunity to have the whole and bigger picture?” Cayetano said.

“So ang tingin ko, we're making a mountain out of a molehill dun sa partial [report]. Naapektuhan din kasi ng konting rivalry ni Sen. Lacson at ni Sen. Marcoleta eh. But the reality is, bakit tayo naka-focus sa partial [report] eh hindi pa nga naa-unvail lahat eh,” he added. 

(I think we’re making a mountain out of a molehill with the partial report. It’s also affected by the little rivalry between Sen. Lacson and Sen. Marcoleta. But the reality is, why are we focusing on the partial report when it hasn’t unveiled everything yet?) 

Lacson, chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, said that every member of the panel, including the ex officio members, is entitled to their own opinions about the investigation. 

“While I disagree with those who do not want to sign, let me be clear that I respect and understand their individual decisions, whatever their reasons are, including that of the minority leader,” Lacson said in a statement. 

Cayetano claimed that many senators do not agree with portions of the partial report, which is why they are hesitant to sign.

“Marami sa amin kasi binasa, we don't agree with the report. So, hindi sa ayaw namin pumirma. We have a lot of disagreements there. But why are we not talking? Ako, personally. Hindi pa tapos eh. Ini-imbestigahan mo, marami pang…hindi lang ito marami pang yugto, maraming nabubuksan,” he said. 

(Many of us have read it, and we don't agree with the report. So, it's not that we don't want to sign. We have a lot of disagreements there. But why are we not talking? Me, personally. Because it's not over yet. We’re still investigating, there's a lot more to come out.) 

So far, the partial committee report on the flood control mess has been signed by Lacson, Senators Erwin Tulfo, Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros, Kiko Pangilinan, and Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. 

The partial report needs at least nine signatures from the committee members before it can be presented in plenary, where it can be debated upon, amended, and possibly adopted.

Privilege speech

But the Senate President Pro Tempore said he will just present some of the contents of the partial report on the floor, while awaiting more members to sign it. 

“I am decided to bring up in plenary the contents and more of what we have accomplished so far after seven or eight committee hearings,” Lacson said.

“There is an underlying reason for my decision—the Filipino people not only deserve to be updated but more so properly and accurately informed amid the false narratives being floated by some critics that we are being selective in going after the culprits in the flood control mess,” he added. 

Lacson earlier announced that he would give a privilege speech on the progress report on the investigation into the flood control controversy when Congress resumes its session next week.

He said the chairman's progress report includes certain contents of the partial report, which may be shared with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of the Ombudsman once delivered in plenary. —LDF, GMA News