Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said that he will recommend conducting an investigation into former House Speaker Martin Romualdez over the flood control scandal.

The senator’s statement comes after a leaked partial committee report from the Blue Ribbon Committee circulated, recommending charges against senators, lawmakers, and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials. According to Lacson, Romualdez is part of another category, as the lawmakers and officials named in the partial committee report have corroborative evidence.

Although Romualdez was often linked to the flood control scandal, Lacson clarified that the allegations against the former House speaker lack validation and corroboration.

“Mayroon din recommendation kay former Speaker Romualdez pero hindi siya kasama doon because…based on corroborative evidence eh,” Lacson said.

“Kasi all others, yung nasa first category. Not only the legislators, pati DPWH officials, marami ‘yon. May COA, lahat. Pero sa legislators, cinategorize namin sila into different levels,” he added.

“‘Yung pinaka huling level ito ‘yung na may isa na pangalan pero walang validation at tsaka walang corroboration. So how will we treat them? Because their next mention, it will be mentioned in the committee report. Pero ang recommendation is further fact-finding inquiry,” he continued.

In a previous Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, retired Marine Sergeant Orly Guteza claimed that he delivered several luggage containing money to the former House speaker’s residence.