Amid Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson’s resignation as the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairperson, Bicol Saro Partylist Rep. Terry Ridon compelled the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to conduct a “broad, unrelenting and open sweep” of all individuals who are linked to the flood control scandal.
In a statement on Sunday, October 5, Ridon acknowledged that while Lacson has vacated the chairmanship of the Blue Ribbon Committee, his leadership of the panel revealed the “most consequential testimonies and evidence” among all proceedings related to the Senate and the House of Representatives’ investigation into the anomalous flood control projects within the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
According to him, former DPWH Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara, former Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, former DPWH assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez, and Jaypee Mendoza laid bare the conspiracy of various officials’ links to the said probe, which includes DPWH officials, legislators, and executive officials.
“Senator Lacson’s Blue Ribbon Committee hearings exposed not only members of Congress as principal participants in the capture of the national budget at every stage of the budget process—from the National Expenditure Program to the Bicameral Conference Committee—but also the involvement of executive officials, particularly in the capture of unprogrammed appropriations, which fall solely within the authority of the executive branch,” he wrote in a statement.
“The departure of Senator Lacson from the Blue Ribbon Committee should now compel the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to conduct a broad, unrelenting and open sweep of all individuals named in both Senate and House hearings, to determine with precision their respective liabilities, and to recommend the filing of appropriate charges,” he added.
With this, Ridon wished the senator well, adding that he is confident the latter will continue to pursue his advocacies for good governance and accountability.
On Sunday, Lacson announced that he will be stepping down as the Committee Chairperson, citing how some senators were dissatisfied with his leadership.
“Rightly or wrongly, when quite a number of them have expressed disappointment over how I’m handling the flood control project anomalies, I thought it’s time for me to step aside in favor of another member who they think can handle the committee better,” he said.
