politics
Senate Blue Ribbon Chair to Deliver Flood Control Report Through Privilege Speech
The chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee plans to present findings on alleged corruption in flood control projects via a privilege speech due to insufficient signatures on the report. The partial report has six signatures, needing nine for formal filing. This follows hearings that began eight months ago.
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The Senate blue ribbon committee has been investigating alleged corruption in flood control projects since its first hearing eight months and nine days ago. The committee's partial report has not yet obtained the required nine signatures for formal filing and sponsorship in the plenary.
The committee chair, Senator Ping Lacson, stated he will deliver the findings through a privilege speech when the Senate session resumes in May. Lacson said this approach allows the Senate to address the flood control issues without needing additional signatures from committee members.
“I will present it via a privilege speech entitled ‘The Chairman’s FCP [Flood Control Project] Progress Report.’ At least if it’s a privilege speech — since some members don’t want to sign”
As of April 27, the report has signatures from six senators: Lacson, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, and senators Erwin Tulfo, Bam Aquino, Kiko Pangilinan, and Risa Hontiveros. Lacson stated that after presentation in the plenary, the progress report containing the partial findings may be forwarded to the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman.
The hearings have addressed alleged multi-million-peso kickbacks involving politicians, contractors, and government officials. Committee members who have not signed include senators Joel Villanueva, Jinggoy Estrada, and Mark Villar. Senator Chiz Escudero, not a committee member, was mentioned in connection to the controversy.
