Saying he had enough, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson broke his silence and took the Senate floor to question Sen. Rodante Marcoleta on his perceived affinity with the Chinese government and his closeness to Sara and Curlee Discaya, the contractor couple involved in the billion worth anomalous flood control projects. 

Lacson raised these questions when he sought to “set the record straight” and to correct the series of “prevarications” the former House lawmaker had earlier made against him during a privilege speech on Tuesday, March 10. 

This, after Marcoleta criticized the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman over his refusal to investigate the claims raised by the 18 ex-Marines into the alleged anomalies in the government’s flood control projects. 

Lacson had earlier defended his decision not to invite the former military personnel after making a background check on them and looking into the veracity of their allegations.

According to Lacson, the ex-Marines’ allegations defied logic and basic math, noting that it must be a logistical nightmare for them to move the P805-billion worth of money and deliver it to the specific government officials and persons.

But prior to this, Marcoleta, who headed the blue ribbon panel before a change in Senate leadership happened and propelled Lacson to head the committee, had been questioning his authority and leadership as the new chairman of the Blue Ribbon panel.

During his privilege speech, Lacson highlighted the questionable statements of Marcoleta regarding his stance on China’s repeated incursions in the West Philippine Sea, and even his suggestion to “give up the Kalayaan Group of Islands (KIG)” which he uttered during a Commission on Appointments (CA) hearing.

He also raised questions on Marcoleta’s insistence on making the Discaya couple a state witness in the government’s ongoing investigation into the flood control projects. 

“Just as a squid squirts ink to darken the water and blind everyone around while it swims away, a person may throw out irrelevant issues, fake scandals, or emotional outbursts to distract the public from the actual evidence or the main point of an investigation,” Lacson pointed out during his privilege speech.

“After all is said and done, I am tempted to ask these questions, Mr. President: 

On the West Philippine Sea—which side of the South China Sea is Sen. Marcoleta on?

On the anomalous graft-ridden flood control projects—is Sen. Marcoleta for the Discayas or the People of the Philippines?

I think we know the answers, Mr. President,” he stressed.

“Hindi ko kasalanan ang mga salitang nagmula sa sarili niyang bibig. May tawag nga dito ang mga GenZ (Why should I be at fault for statements that came from his mouth. Gen-Z calls this:) it’s a classic case of gaslighting,” he added.

‘Give up KIG’ was so clear

Lacson, during his speech, said he could not help but question why Marcoleta keeps on blaming him over the flak he received over his “give up KIG” statements which he clearly delivered and was recorded by the CA.

“His statement ‘ang gawin natin po para madali, i-give up natin ang KIG, then maco-coordinate na natin lahat’ (What we should do to make it easier is to give up KIG, then we can coordinate everything)—is not merely suggestive. 

“Ito ay kasing kintab ng bumbunan na nasinagan ng tirik na araw sa tanghaling tapat (It is as shiny as a roof illuminated by the blazing sun at noon),” Lacson stressed.

He also cautioned the CA against heeding Marcoleta’s appeal to amend or correct the journal of the Committee on National Defense where he made that statement.

“Sangkatutak na ang mga pahayag ni Sen. Marcoleta na napakalinaw na hindi pumapabor sa ating pambansang interes. Sangkatutak nna rin ang mga nagbigay ng kanilang mga negatibong reaksyon, ngunit sa huli’t huli, ako pa rin ang sinisisi ni Sen. Marcoleta (There have been countless statements by Sen. Marcoleta that are clearly not in favor of our national interest. There have also been countless negative reactions, but in the end, Sen. Marcoleta still blames me),” he pointed out.

At the same time, Lacson showed a Powerpoint slide showing how Marcoleta’s statements are also being carried by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its website. 

“Now Sen. Marcoleta speaks of a ‘pattern’ that he himself built in his head to discredit this representation. But if we backtrack the events that transpired in the past several months, one thing is crystal clear: when cornered by the fault of his own doing, he employs a diversionary maneuver, pathetically stretching the conversation, no matter how illogical, until people get drained and tired,” he said.

Protective of Discayas 

Lacson, likewise, renewed his question regarding Marcoleta’s evident closeness with the Discayas and his insistence on making them state witnesses in the flood control case that they are primarily involved in.

As a member of the bar, Lacson said he finds Marcoleta ignorant, particularly on the Revised Rules on Criminal Proceduure, “even as he invoked the issue of impartiality at the top of his voice.”

And Marcoleta did this “without even disclosing before the committee members that one of his family members was an independent director of insurance companies that provided bonds for contractors owned by the P207-billion flood control contractors—Curlee and Sarah Discaya.”

“Kung may napansin ang mga manonood, ito ay ang naging asal ni (If those watching had noticed anything, is the attitude of) Sen. Marcoleta, which begged the question: Why is Sen. Marcoleta so protective of the Discayas?

“This inquiry remains valid and grounded, and I can show you from the many, many occasions he stood for and in support of the Discayas,” he pointed out.

‘Obsessed,’ ‘Know-it-all’

At the same time, Lacson shut down Marcoleta’s complaint that he has yet to receive a copy of the draft partial committee report on the flood control problem, pointing out that his office furnished an advanced copy of the report to the Blue Ribbon members’ offices as early as Feb. 11.

He added that his office followed up with the other senators if they wished to sign the report, even if they intended to dissent or interpellate. Yet, Marcoleta did not sign it and only Sen. Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV signed it.

“Bakit ngayon ay maghahanap siya ng Blue Ribbon Committee report na nakatengga sa kanyang opisina ng isang buwan pa (Why is he now looking for a Blue Ribbon Committee report that had been in his office for a month),” he pointed out.

He also said Marcoleta may have become obsessed with him—to the extent of stalking his interviews and social media updates and nitpicking every statement he said.

“Ewan ko Mr. President—simula nang nasopla ko si Sen. Marcoleta sa floor ay tila nagtanim na siya ng poot sa kanyang dibdib (I don’t know, Mr. President. Since I shut down Marcoleta on the floor, he appeared to hold a grudge against me),” Lacson noted.