A heated exchange has erupted between Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson and Senator Rodante Marcoleta over the process of inviting former House Speaker Martin Romualdez to testify in the ongoing Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigation into alleged flood control project anomalies.

In a radio interview, Marcoleta questioned why Lacson, who chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, has yet to compel Romualdez to attend the hearings.

He argued that Romualdez’s earlier video message denying allegations of being the alleged “mastermind” behind the controversy indicated readiness to face the inquiry and should warrant an immediate summons.

Marcoleta also criticized what he described as numerous conditions set by Lacson before proceeding with the investigation.

Lacson, however, defended the committee’s approach, citing the long-standing principle of interparliamentary courtesy between the Senate and the House of Representatives.

He explained that invitations to incumbent members of the House must be coursed through the current Speaker, Faustino "Bojie" Dy III, in accordance with congressional tradition.

The senator noted that Romualdez had already been invited twice but failed to attend the hearings. In contrast, other lawmakers such as Batangas Representative Lean Leviste and Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco voluntarily appeared before the committee.

Lacson stressed that interparliamentary courtesy is a “time-honored tradition” since the establishment of the country’s bicameral legislature and insisted that it must be respected in the conduct of Senate inquiries.

The disagreement highlights growing tensions within the Senate as it continues its probe into alleged irregularities in government flood control projects.