Jamaine Punzalan

Sen. 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

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

<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/177570269198720260119-senate-probe-flood-control-lacson-JC9654.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sen. 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 — The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on April 14 that would have heard former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/9/19/chavit-singson-probe-into-flood-control-projects-should-start-in-ilocos-norte-1716">Chavit Singson&#x27;s testimony</a> on the flood control scandal has been deferred.</p><p>Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, who chairs the panel, said Thursday he wanted Singson to submit an affidavit first. He added that wanted five more senators to sign the partial committee report he circulated for signature weeks ago.</p><p>&quot;The Committee has deemed it necessary to reschedule the public hearing contingent on the mitigation of the current National Energy Emergency and the formal submission of your sworn affidavit, including all pertinent supporting documents,” Lacson said in a letter to Singson, informing him of the deferment of the hearings until further notice.</p><p>“Additionally, the Committee has deferred the resumption of the hearings pending the review and signing of the Partial Committee Report currently before its members,&quot; Lacson said.</p><p>&quot;We appreciate your cooperation and will provide updates regarding the new schedule as soon as it is determined,&quot; he added.</p><p>Lacson noted the Blue Ribbon Committee gave Singson until April 7 to submit his draft affidavit, but did not receive any response.</p><p>Singson was invited by email last March 25 but that was unanswered. The committee sent a copy of the invitation letter at his residence on April 6 and wrote Singson again April 7 to inform him of the deferment.</p><p>Singson expressed interest in testifying back in March, prompting Lacson to schedule a hearing.</p><p>Lacson is considering delivering a Chairman&#x27;s Report on the flood control projects issue and forwarding it to the Ombudsman with the documents, transcripts, and other evidence gathered in at least seven hearings.</p><p>&quot;Para makatulong man lang sa kanilang ongoing preliminary investigations (This is to at least help the Ombudsman in its ongoing preliminary investigations),&quot; he said.</p><p>The partial report needs <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/11/five-signatures-needed-to-send-partial-flood-control-probe-report-to-senate-floor-1944">five more signatures</a> so that it can be submitted to the plenary session. So far, only Lacson and Senators Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan have signed. A majority of the 17 man panel — in this case 9 — is needed to send the report to the plenary session.</p><p>The other members are Erwin Tulfo, JV Ejercito, Pia Cayetano, Sherwin Gatchalian, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Raffy Tulfo, Mark Villar, Rodante Marcoleta, Joel Villanueva,  Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Go, Imee Marcos and Robinhood Padilla.</p><p>Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri and Senate Minority Leader are ex-officio members, along with Lacson who is also the second highest official of the Senate.</p><p>Estrada and Villanueva had also been tagged in the scandal. Padilla, a minority lawmaker, previously said he would sign it if the minority leader said so. Some minority lawmakers have released their own findings and recommendations in what they call the Minority Report.</p><p>Among others, the partial report already recommends further investigation as well as asset freeze and forfeiture against former Speaker Martin Romualdez. He has denied involvement in flood control anomalies.</p><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/5hO9nXYuh9E?&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/3TOXUCojOMc?&amp;t=46s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on April 14 that would have heard former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis Chavit Singson's testimony on the flood control scandal has been deferred.</p>

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on April 14 that would have heard former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis Chavit Singson's testimony on the flood control scandal has been deferred.

Senate blue ribbon hearing on April 14 deferred pending Chavit affidavit, additional signatures on partial report

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Senate blue ribbon hearing on April 14 deferred pending Chavit affidavit, additional signatures on partial report

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 09, 2026 10:51 AM PHT

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