Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1758591467814cropped-Screenshot 2025-09-23 091952.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A heated exchange ensued within minutes after the Blue Ribbon panel opened its fifth hearing into the flood control mess Tuesday. Senate/screengrab</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATE) </strong>— A heated exchange ensued within minutes after the Blue Ribbon panel opened its fifth hearing into the flood control mess Tuesday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/23/senate-conducts-fifth-flood-control-hearing-as-authorities-race-to-preserve-corruption-evidence-0900">Senate conducts fifth flood control hearing as authorities race to preserve corruption evidence</a></div><p>This, after Sen. Rodante Marcoleta questioned the &quot;integrity&quot; the probe and committee chairperson Sen. Panfilo &quot;Ping&quot; Lacson, who supposedly picked Brice Hernandez as the &quot;more qualified&quot; state witness over the Discayas.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jCcSFuu3CtE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHAT HAPPENED</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>After Lacson opened the hearing, Marcoleta insisted to speak to raise a &quot;prejudicial question.&quot;</p><p>Lacson refused to acknowledge Marcoleta a few times, before he eventually let him speak.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/19/curlee-discaya-undergoes-evaluation-for-doj-protection-bid-0945">DOJ starts evaluating Curlee Discaya&#x27;s witness protection bid</a></div><p>&quot;Foremost to my mind is the integrity, impartiality, and objectivity of the proceedings of this committee,&quot; Marcoleta said, citing Lacson&#x27;s media interview.</p><p>In the interview, Lacson was supposedly asked who between sacked DPWH engineer Brice Hernandez and the Discaya couple was more qualified to be state witness in the flood control scandal. He picked Hernandez, Marcoleta said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/15/marcoleta-says-discayas-need-not-return-money-to-become-state-witnesses-1137">Marcoleta says Discayas need not return money to beconessesme state wit</a></div><p>&quot;Sana wag kayo magbibigay ng opinyon,&quot;Marcoleta said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>DISCAYA PROTECTOR?</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>&quot;Away kaagad tayo dito,&quot; Lacson said before he suspended the hearing.</p><p>Lacson defended himself against Marcoleta&#x27;s accusation of partiality and explained that his opinions outside the Senate halls cannot be questioned. </p><p>&quot;Are you trying to steal the show this morning? Are you creating trouble to prevent the proceedings?&quot; Lacson asked.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/8/discayas-must-return-money-first-before-qualifying-as-state-witnesses-doj-1528">Discayas must return &#x27;stolen&#x27; money first before qualifying as state witnesses: DOJ</a></div><p>&quot;Why are you so protective of the Discayas?&quot; Lacson added.</p><p>&quot;I am not protecting them,&quot; Marcoleta replied.</p><p>Lacson cut off Marcoleta and opened the hearing again to let former DPWH district engineer Henry Alcantara make his opening statement.</p><p>Marcoleta, the former Blue Ribbon Committee chairman, had earlier proposed witness protection for Pacifico &quot;Curlee&quot; Discaya and Sarah Discaya.</p><p>The DOJ had said that the Discayas would have to return any ill-gotten wealth they could have accumulated before being granted protection by the government.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KjKkS6rqmZw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aeAo_Q4w8Rs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><strong></strong><br/></div>

<p>A heated exchange ensued within minutes after the Blue Ribbon panel opened its fifth hearing into the flood control mess Tuesday.</p>

A heated exchange ensued within minutes after the Blue Ribbon panel opened its fifth hearing into the flood control mess Tuesday.

'Away kaagad tayo!': Lacson, Marcoleta clash over 'integrity' of Blue Ribbon probe

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'Away kaagad tayo!': Lacson, Marcoleta clash over 'integrity' of Blue Ribbon probe

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 23, 2025 09:47 AM PHT

|

Updated September 23, 2025 10:03 AM PHT

Read More:

Senate

Blue Ribbon

politics

Rodante Marcoleta

Ping Lacson

flood control

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