Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman and President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson on Wednesday said he understands why some of his colleagues have distanced themselves from him after being mentioned in the committee report on the flood control scandal.

Speaking at Kapihan sa Senado, Lacson acknowledged the apparent change in behavior of several senators during the course of the investigation.

The committee chairman said some senators have become noticeably distant—some no longer greeting him, while others have stopped communicating altogether.

“I will not blame them, but I have a duty to perform,” Lacson said.

He continued, “Kasi kung puro pakikisama na lang all the way, huwag na lang tayong mag-hearing. Naiintindihan ko naman where they are coming from.”

The senators included in the committee report are Senator Francis Escudero, particularly Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada.

Despite this, he maintained that he does not take their actions personally, reiterating that he is simply doing his job.

Lacson also addressed the decision of some senators not to sign the Blue Ribbon Committee report on the alleged irregularities in flood control projects across the country. While he described the refusal to sign a legitimate Senate document as “unacceptable,” he said he recognizes the so-called “human factor” behind their decision.

“Hindi naman ito hatol, hindi naman ito final judgement,” Lacson clarified, referring to the findings that mentioned several senators.

The lawmaker is currently preparing a transmittal letter to the Office of the Ombudsman to forward key information gathered during the committee’s investigation into the alleged flood control scam.

Meanwhile, Lacson expressed hope that former lawmaker Zaldy Co, who is currently abroad, will eventually return to the Philippines to face the Senate inquiry. He noted that the government is awaiting the decision of the French government regarding Co’s reported asylum application.

“We will await the decision of the French government kung magagrant ‘yung kanyang asylum. It is incumbent upon this administration to oppose the application of the asylum. Kasi hindi naman ‘yung siguradong maapprove,” Lacson said.

So far, seven senators have signed the partial committee report, with Lacson still seeking the required number of signatures to formally release the findings on the controversial flood control projects.