SEN. Panfilo Lacson said that while the language in the draft Blue Ribbon Committee report on “ghost” flood control projects has been “softened,” the substance remains unchanged. The senator said the report still recommends legal action against Sens. Francis Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, and Joel Villanueva for allegedly receiving commissions from the flood control budget. In an earlier version of the draft report, the committee recommended the three senators be “charged” with plunder and violations of anti-graft laws. In the current version, “charged” has been replaced with “to undergo preliminary investigation,” said Lacson, chairman of the panel tasked with investigating government anomalies. “In layman’s terms, when you say ‘charged,’ it seems it is already filed in the court,” the Senate president pro tempore said in a mix of Filipino and English. “So, we just specified that instead of using the word ‘charged’ or ‘to be charged,’ [it is] to undergo preliminary investigation, fact-finding investigation, or case buildup.” “My bottom line is: I would not report out something that I don’t believe in,” Lacson added. Asked to comment on observations that other personalities should have been included in the list, Lacson said, “If they have such suggestions, they should present evidence.” “It is easy to say, ‘Why was this person not here?’ or ‘Why was this person included?’ Where is the evidence?” he said. “We go by the evidence gathered during the Blue Ribbon Committee investigation. We cannot go beyond that, and we cannot fall short of the evidence presented.” Lacson added that fellow senators should “help in crafting the report instead of simply criticizing it.” The senator expressed confidence that he could secure the 11 signatures required to present the report to the plenary. Lacson also noted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was not among those recommended for investigation. “Because he is an impeachable officer,” Lacson said. “And the impeachment complaint against him before the House of Representatives has been dismissed.”