Marilyn Cahatol

Senator-elect Panfilo Lacson during the proclamation for the winning senators of the recently concluded Halalan 2025 on  May 1, 2025 at the Tent City of the Manila Hotel. handout, Panfilo Lacson Medfia Team

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<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/177768374429220250517-lacson-ping-proclamation-HO-10.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false" style="text-align:left">Senator-elect Panfilo Lacson during the proclamation for the winning senators of the recently concluded Halalan 2025 on  May 1, 2025 at the Tent City of the Manila Hotel. <em>handout, Panfilo Lacson Media Team</em></span></span></span>MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chair Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said he will make a privilege speech next week to report the committee’s progress on the flood control investigation, as the lack of signatures from senators have stalled the submission of its partial report to plenary. </div><p>“Kaya nga naisip ko na magsagawa na lang ng privilege speech. Magsasagawa ako ng chairman’s progress report,” Lacson told DZMM Teleradyo on Saturday, May 2. </p><p>He said he had already requested his privilege speech to be scheduled on Monday or Tuesday next week. </p><p>“Kasi I think as chairman, I owe it to the public, to the Filipino people, kung ano na ang nangyare after seven or eight hearings ng committee,” he said. </p><p>Lacson on April 16 said that the committee’s partial report on the flood control issue is still <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/16/lacson-flood-control-partial-report-now-3-signatures-shy-of-submission-1113" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">three signatures shy of the nine</a> required to submit the report to the plenary session and effectively make it public.</p><p>He said some senators refuse to sign the partial report as per other lawmakers&#x27; request. </p><p>The chair stressed it is “unjust” for senators to deliberately not sign the report to stall its progress.</p><p>“Para hindi pumirma, I don’t think makatarungan yun, kasi duty naming mga member ng mga komite na pag nabasa mo yung committee report, pirmahan mo, pagkatapos maglagay ka ng ‘will interpellate,’ ‘will amend,’ ‘with reservation,’ or ‘will submit separate report or opinion,’” he said. </p><p>“Ganun dapat, hindi yung hindi ka pipirma para hindi umusad,” he added. </p><p>Meanwhile, Lacson noted that the privilege speech will not limit him to what transpired in the panel’s probe, but may also include documents that were not discussed during hearings. </p><p>He also intends to give a copy to the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman, which are conducting their own proceedings on the multibillion-peso corruption issue. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PROBE CONTINUES</strong></div><p>Lacson assured that the Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation will continue, intending to send new invitations to allegedly involved lawmakers, including former House speaker Martin Romualdez, who he said has already been invited twice. </p><p>But the chair reiterated that House members cannot be forced to attend Senate hearings due to inter-parliamentary courtesy. </p><p>Romualdez last week <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/21/romualdez-says-he-will-not-allow-myself-to-be-turned-into-scapegoat-in-flood-control-mess-1825">broke his silence </a>over the flood control issue and said that he will &quot;not allow myself to be turned into the scapegoat.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/27/marcoleta-wants-romualdez-to-face-senate-probe-over-flood-control-issue-1450">Marcoleta wants Romualdez to face Senate probe over flood control issue</a></div><p>Lacson noted that the implicated lawmakers should face the committee and “give themselves the chance to answer allegations against them.”</p><p>“Mas mainam kung sila yung haharap mismo. Pero dahil pumapasok yung mga ebidensiya na mai-implicate sila, [desisyon] nila yun kung gusto nila sumagot, bigyan ng pagkakataon yung sarili nila para sumagot. Kung ayaw nila sagutin, magli-linger yung kung ano man ang ibinato sa kanila,” he said. </p><p>An invitation is also pending for former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson, who Lacson said has not yet submitted his affidavit despite previously expressing his intent to testify before the committee.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mqdEyGt6JCY?si=1VcsqrvF4vUlY9e0" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chair Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said he will instead make a privilege speech to report the committee’s progress in the flood control investigation, as the lack of signatures from senators stalls its submission to plenary.</p>

Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chair Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said he will instead make a privilege speech to report the committee’s progress in the flood control investigation, as the lack of signatures from senators stalls its submission to plenary.

Lacson to make privilege speech on Blue Ribbon partial flood control report next week

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Lacson to make privilege speech on Blue Ribbon partial flood control report next week

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 02, 2026 09:21 AM PHT

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Updated May 02, 2026 10:04 AM PHT

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Senate

Blue Ribbon Committee

flood control

Ping Lacson

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