Lacson: Support builds for Blue Ribbon partial report on flood control as two senators sign

MANILA, Philippines -- Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Thursday said he "would not plead" with fellow Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) members to sign the partial report on the flood control fund scandal out of respect. Lacson, BRC chairman, on Wednesday said he suspended further committee hearings until he presented and sponsored the partial committee report in plenary. "One of the reasons why the other majority members have not signed or at least reluctant to do so is that they were being 'requested' by some of their former majority bloc colleagues," Lacson said in a statement. However, Lacson said that Senate President Vicente Sotto III offered to help him in getting the needed number of signatures to allow him to present the partial report to the Senate floor. The Senate president pro tempore said that as of Wednesday, Sotto and BRC vice chairman Erwin Tulfo signed the partial report, while "at least two others" hinted they would do the same. "I told SP (Senate President) Sotto earlier that I won’t plead with our fellow BRC members to affix their signatures on the partial committee report because I respect their individual decisions, whatever reasons they have in refusing to sign. Hence, SP Sotto promised to help in that regard," he said. With at least six signatures so far, the partial report needs at least three more for it to be filed and reported out on the floor where it can be debated upon, amended and adopted. Lacson said continuing hearings without reaching a logical conclusion in the form of a committee report that senators can debate, amend and adopt on the Senate floor would be pointless and contrary to Senate rules.

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