Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson dismissed on Wednesday, January 21 the committee report that was released by some members of the Senate Minority bloc saying it is a disrespect not only to the powerful Blue Ribbon Committee, but to the entire Senate as well. 

Lacson, who also chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, said he cannot respect a document that did not even observe the Rules of the Senate. 

“How will I respect a document that symbolizes disrespect towards the Blue Ribbon Committee and the entire Senate?” Lacson said in a televised interview on DZMM.

The senator is referring to the so-called “minority report” which Senators Rodante Marcoleta and Imee Marcos showed to the media on Tuesday, January 20.

The said 576-paged document is signed by six out of nine members of the minority bloc. 

The said “minority report” contains the findings of the Senate minority bloc on the ongoing investigation of the Upper Chamber on the anomalies on government flood control projects. 

But Lacson said such a report cannot even be formally reported out in plenary since only a committee report can be reported out only by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and after it is signed by majority of the committee’s members—not just by six of nine members of the minority bloc. 

“The last time I counted, we are 24 senators, we are not only nine,” Lacson said.

“That’s why I don’t know why all of a sudden there is a minority report,” he pointed out.

“Respect begets respect. How will I respect a document that symbolizes disrespect towards the Blue Ribbon Committee and the entire Senate both of which they are members?” he emphasized. 

“So there is no other place for that 'minority report' but the trash bin,” he added.

Asked if he read the report, Lacson said “No, I did not.”

He further said he cannot understand why the bloc, which has veteran members, does not know the procedures, pointing out that they can propose amendments to the Blue Ribbon Committee’s committee report on the ongoing investigation if they want to give their inputs. 

“They can introduce amendments to the committee report that will be adopted on the floor - not come up with their own version of a 'report'. Is that not a show of disrespect?” he said.

Likewise, Lacson questioned the temerity of some of the minority members’ repeated criticisms and belittling of the panel’s hearings when they are also members of the committee and could actually attend and ask questions.

“They are members of the committee but now they are nitpicking our hearings. Being members, why don't they just attend and show the evidence they claim to have?” he said.

“It is not wrong to criticize but it should be constructive, and not meant to undermine the Committee,” he stressed.

Furthermore, he pointed out that the evidence gathered by the blue ribbon committee greatly helped build cases against several personalities, many of whom are now facing court cases. 

“So the Blue Ribbon Committee was a great help in addressing the issue. For some to belittle it, that is an insult to the entire Senate,” he said.

“So that 'minority report' is not worth discussing because it is not in the rules,” Lacson said.