Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said on Friday, September 12 that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will continue its investigation into the corruption behind anomalous flood control projects in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) even though Malacañang has created an Independent Commission to investigate the same issue.

Lacson also said he will maintain a “blindfold mentality” in presiding the panel, saying it is important for the committee to base its findings on evidence and spare no one—not even lawmakers or employees during the probe.

The senator said the P355-million insertion in the 2025 budget, one of the subjects of the investigation, has brought to light the need to identify the proponents of amendments or insertions in crafting the budget.

“Let me emphasize that the committee’s ongoing inquiry is in aid of legislation and does not intend to target any senator or congressman, particularly Sen. Jinggoy Estrada,” Lacson emphasized.

“But in pushing for crafting legislation for full transparency in the entire budget process, the P355-million insertion brought to light the necessity of identifying proponents of amendments or insertions in the crafting of the annual General Appropriations Act,” he said.

“I have always adopted a blindfold mentality. It is not right to be partial, much less to cover up for someone, because that will disrupt the investigation," he further said.

“Because if you investigate, you exclude no one and you don't become selective. If you do, then what is the investigation for?” he added.

Complementary

Moreover, Lacson believes that the Senate blue ribbon probe and the work of the Independent Commission would be complementary. “They won’t compete with each other,” he said.

“The independent commission has a separate task but it will complement the Senate Blue Ribbon. We must coordinate closely. We can provide it with the evidence it needs to prosecute those involved. But we can also ask it for the records we need in our legislative work,” he added.

Next hearing

According to Lacson, the next scheduled hearing of the Senate blue ribbon panel would be on Thursday, September 18. The panel will summon to the hearing Mina Jose, a supposed representative of WJ Construction who, based on Senate security camera footage, entered the Upper Chamber’s premises last Aug. 19 and visited an office on the third floor.

WJ Construction was linked to the mess after it allegedly made a "delivery of obligation" (a.k.a. bribe) after being awarded a project by ex-Bulacan first District Engineering Office head Henry Alcantara.

“I am having the Senate logbook checked. Visitors to the Senate have to sign a logbook indicating who they want to visit. I am checking who Mina visited,” Lacson said.

Also invited to the hearing is Beng Ramos, a member of the blue ribbon panel who supposedly delivered an “obligation” by WJ Construction. According to Lacson, Ramos has been transferred to the Senate’s motor pool section.

Lacson also said DPWH Undersecretary Catalina Cabral will be summoned to the next hearing, to explain her Viber message inviting a staff of now-Senate President Vicente Sotto III to propose early insertions to the 2026 budget.

Aside from them, the panel will also summon the so-called “BGC Boys” or the DPWH officials who gambled away taxpayers’ money in casinos, the Discaya couple and representatives from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

“I will ask the DBM to put on record how the P355 million was distributed…I am not saying it is illegal but it is improper. Under our rules, only the disagreeing provisions should be taken up in the bicameral conference committee,” he stressed.