Jamaine Punzalan

Senator Panfilo Lacson during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on anomalous flood control projects in Pasay City on January 19, 2026. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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SENATE PROBE- FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177018690366420260119-senate-probe-flood-control-lacson-JC9646.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senator Panfilo Lacson during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on anomalous flood control projects in Pasay City on January 19, 2026. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News </span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said Wednesday he was standing by a leaked draft Blue Ribbon Committee report on the flood control scandal, which recommended charges against fellow Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva and Francis Escudero.</p><p>The draft report also recommended charges against former Senator Bong Revilla, former Appropriations Committee Chair Zaldy Co, former congresswoman Mitch Cajayon Uy, and former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan.</p><p>Asked about his next move if the recommendation was dropped, Lacson said, &quot;I will not sponsor it. I will let somebody sponsor it. If there is any taker.&quot;</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m not willing to sponsor something na hindi ako naniniwala at saka yung hindi aligned doon sa realities,&quot; he said. </p><p>The officials mentioned in the draft report have denied links to alleged infrastructure anomalies. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/9/ex-dpwh-engineer-tags-estrada-villanueva-in-alleged-flood-control-anomalies-1055">Ex-DPWH engineer tags Estrada, Villanueva in flood control anomalies; senators deny allegations</a></div><p>Members of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/4/lacson-blue-ribbon-members-to-discuss-draft-partial-committee-report-1211">discuss </a>Wednesday the panel&#x27;s draft partial report. </p><p>Lacson noted that if the report could garner the required 11 signatures, it would be submitted next week to the plenary. </p><p>He insisted that the draft report was aligned with “realities on the ground.” </p><p>“We&#x27;re recommending them to undergo preliminary investigation. And they&#x27;re already undergoing preliminary investigation. So, why would we go against what&#x27;s already happening?” Lacson said. </p><p>&quot;But kung sa mga amendments na papasok sa aming discussion, mamaya merong kokontra doon sa realities on the ground, medyo may problema kami. Because the committee report itself will not be aligned with what is actually happening sa ground.&quot;</p><p>“Papanindigan ko yun… Now, I respect the opinion or opinions of my colleagues in this regard. So, if I&#x27;m not able to gather or secure 11 signatures, then there will be no committee report,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/3/sotto-denounces-leak-of-draft-of-blue-ribbon-committee-report-on-flood-control-scandal-2348">Sotto denounces leak of draft of Blue Ribbon Committee report on flood control scandal</a></div><p>Lacson said only Villanueva has reached out to his office.</p><p>&quot;I think si Senator Joel was asking for a copy last night. Pero hindi namin mabigyan because ano nga yung draft yun. And we intend to present also to them, to the minority members of the BRC, yung draft committee report to also get their input. After all, the members din sila,&quot; Lacson said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/9/villanueva-denies-receiving-kickbacks-from-flood-control-projects-1557">&#x27;I will never betray my principle&#x27;: Villanueva denies receiving kickbacks from flood control projects</a></div><div><iframe width="1200" height="675" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5axbQtm1P7M" title="Lacson confirms draft Blue Ribbon report recommending charges vs Chiz, Jinggoy, Joel" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Lacson explained why no charges were recommended against former Speaker Martin Romualdez.</p><p>“Hindi siya kasama doon because ini-categorize namin based on corroborative evidence… Yung pinakahuling level, ito yung na-mention ang pangalan, pero walang validation at saka walang corroboration,” he said. </p><p>“So how will we treat them? Because their names were mentioned, they will be mentioned in the committee  report. Pero ang recommendation is further fact-finding inquiry.” </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/25/romualdez-denies-receiving-suitcases-of-money-from-co-s-ex-security-consultant-1832">Romualdez denies receiving suitcases of money from Co&#x27;s ex-security consultant</a></div><p>Lacson said if the report would cost Senate President Vicente Sotto III the helm of the Senate, “That&#x27;s part of the game.”</p><p>“Kung because of a mere committee report na nag-participate naman din sila, eh aayaw na sila at tatanggalin na lang ang Senate President, I will take responsibility somehow. But the Senate President is all behind the Blue Ribbon Committee. Not in its findings. Kaya i-discuss namin, he will be there,&quot; Lacson said. </p><p>But Lacson believed it would not reach that point.</p><p>&quot;Hindi makakarating doon because if they refuse to sign, there&#x27;ll be no committee report to speak of,” he said. </p><div> </div>

<p>Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said Wednesday he was standing by a leaked draft Blue Ribbon Committee report on the flood control scandal, which recommended charges against fellow Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva and Francis Escudero.</p>

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said Wednesday he was standing by a leaked draft Blue Ribbon Committee report on the flood control scandal, which recommended charges against fellow Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva and Francis Escudero.

Lacson stands by draft committee report to charge senators over flood control mess

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Lacson stands by draft committee report to charge senators over flood control mess

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 04, 2026 02:46 PM PHT

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Senate

Ping Lacson

corruption

flood control

Blue Ribbon

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