In an earler interview in rhe afternoon, Sotto told reporters that then chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Marcoleta, wrote to him to make the recommendation, which Sotto forwarded to the panel's new chairman, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson. 

"I forwarded the supposed letter to Senator Lacson, pag-uusapan muna namin…He is now the Blue Ribbon Committee chairman, so we'll probably assess muna the proposition," Sotto said in an ambush interview. 

Sotto confirmed that the letter is to endorse the Discayas to the Witness Protection Program.

"As I read it, sabi ko nga, kumpleto na ba? 'Yun bang tell-all na 'yun, maging state witness nila o tell-half? (As I read it, I asked myself, is it already complete? Is that “tell-all” really a tell-all to make them a state witness, or just a “tell-half”?)" Sotto asked.

"Tingnan muna natin, that's why there's a new chairman of the blue ribbon so I'll consult him first (Let’s wait and see first — that’s why there’s a new chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, so I’ll consult him first)," he added.

During the plenary session, Marcoleta reminded the chamber of an agreement made by the Blue Ribbon Committee under his former chairmanship to extend provisional immunity to witnesses in the controversial flood control projects probe.

Marcoleta recounted that on Sept. 1, he had floated the idea of offering such protection — in coordination with the Department of Justice (DOJ) — to any of the 15 individuals involved in the hearings who were willing to come forward and help identify other conspirators in the anomalous projects. The committee agreed, provided that those seeking protection were not the most guilty and that they met the legal requirements.

A week later, Marcoleta said that the Discayas expressed their willingness to testify. He emphasized that before they submitted their sworn statements, he ensured their decision was voluntary, even asking their emissary to confirm in writing their readiness to speak without deceit.

Following this, Marcoleta said the committee formally wrote to the DOJ on September 8, 2025, to initiate the process. But with the Senate leadership changing shortly after, he sought clarification from Sotto

“They were encouraged to come out into the open and tell all because of the assurance that help would be extended to them,” Marcoleta said.

Lacson and Marcoleta later discussed the matter.

In a sworn testimony, the Discayas alleged that lawmakers and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials routinely demanded kickbacks of up to 25 percent from government-funded flood control projects, who told them that projects would be stalled unless payments were made.