Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said on Tuesday, November 4 that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has invited a “very important witness” to shed more light into the controversy surrounding the government’s flood control projects in its next hearing.

According to Lacson, the said witness is vital to the Senate blue ribbon panel’s hearing as his testimony can lead to the “prosecution” and possibly, the “conviction” of bigger personalities who are involved in the anomalous infrastructure projects.

“I’m having his affidavit finalized within the week,” said Lacson, who is poised to return as the Senate blue ribbon panel chairman.

“Because his testimony is based on evidence and documents—ledger, digital files, all notes. Because I told the witness that if he will just mention names without any supporting documents, then he shouldn’t mention them, because he might just destroy the person,” he further said at the Kapihan sa Senado forum.

“So even if he has knowledge (of the anomalies), but he has no supporting documents, I’d rather he mention no one. That’s what we agreed on,” he said.

Asked if the “very important witness” volunteered to testify on the ongoing probe, Lacson said the witness sent “feelers”: “there was a conduit, actually.”

Lacson earlier set the next hearing on the flood control probe on November 14, pending his reelection as Blue Ribbon Committee chairman when the Senate resumes plenary sessions on November 10.

He resigned from his position earlier this month, but Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Lacson will return as blue ribbon panel chairman after majority of the senators expressed their support on the former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.

Lacson earlier hinted on inviting a “very important witness” in his post on X.

The senator also said he has yet to receive a confirmation on whether former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez will appear in the next hearing.