Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III clarified on Thursday, February 5 that a draft committee report is not official and, therefore cannot be made public. 

Sotto made the statement after a petition seeking full disclosure of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s report on anomalous flood control projects was filed.

“Precisely, it’s a draft and therefore, not official. If the other committee members have not even read or seen it, it cannot be made public,” Sotto said in a message to reporters.

“They met yesterday ang agreed on how the committee report may be filed,” the Senate leader said.

On February 4, Atty. Marvin Aceron, together with two other lawyers, filed a petition seeking full disclosure of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s partial report on its investigation on the flood control projects. 

Aceron argued that the media had published the draft report and that three senators—Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian and Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri withdrew their signatures. 

Sotto, however, said he is confident that the panel, headed by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, would know how to respond to such petition.

“I’m sure the blue ribbon committee office would know how to handle such,” the Senate chief said.

Lacson, in a separate message, said he will be discussing the matter with the Senate President and the members of the committee.

“And of course, with the Senate legal (team),” Lacson said. 

On Wednesday, Lacson confirmed that the partial committee report finds three incumbent senators—Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva and Francis “Chiz” Escudero—to be liable for plunder and other criminal charges.

Lacson also said the draft report was routed to senators on February 3 and that six lawmakers, Zubiri, Ejercito, Gatchalian, Risa Hontiveros, Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, signed the report.

Zubiri, Ejercito and Gatchalian, however, withdrew their signatures and sought further discussion on the report.