Former Ilocos governor Luis “Chavit” Singson has informed the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that he is willing to testify in the panel’s investigation into the anomalous flood control projects.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson disclosed this saying the former official has approached him personally to signify his intention to testify in the next scheduled hearing. 

Lacson said he has accepted Singson’s request to be allowed to testify when he visited his office. 

“He was in my office…He may or he may not (submit an affidavit). Because, for me it’s enough that what he will testify would be relevant to the Blue Ribbon’s investigation,” Lacson told reporters during an interview at the sidelines of the Commission on Appointments (CA) hearing. 

Moreover, as a former governor, Lacson said he will leave it up to the former public official to justify his participation in the Blue Ribbon investigation. 

In previous interviews, Singson had said that the government should start its investigation into flood control projects in Ilocos Norte, the bailiwick of the Marcos political clan, alleging that the contractors there are also linked to the Discayas.

“Well, he’s a former governor, that’s why I’ll leave it up to him to justify his presence if he does testify,” the senator said.

“Anyway, you will be able to see the credibility or incredibility, which ever the case, of whatever he will say,” he added. 

April 14 hearing

Lacson, who heads the Blue Ribbon panel, also said that the next scheduled hearing has been scheduled tentatively on April 14, 2026 or after the Senate goes into recess for the Holy Week.

The Senate will adjourn sessions on March 21 and will resume on May 3, 2026.

“But if we can hold it much earlier then, why not,” he said.

“But if we are going to call for a hearing, some of the senators might be on vacation mode and I might be the only senator present during the hearing. I’d rather be joined by my colleagues,” he stressed. 

Asked if the panel is also keen on inviting the 18 former Marines to testify in the upcoming hearings, Lacson said this is still being studied. 

“I have to consult my colleagues because some members have issues, individual and collective issues. I, for one, have already voiced my concern. We might call them, but if what they say is too far from the truth, what will we do? How do we treat the information and even the resource persons?” he explained.

“If one of them is obviously lying, and once there is a motion to cite them in contempt, then we’ll have bit of a problem there. The public opinion may say we are oppressing the resource persons, that we should treat them in such a manner we treat other resource persons.

“But if they are lying through their teeth, we might be accused of being double standard,” he pointed out.