Senator Panfilo Lacson on Sunday denied claims by Senator Rodante Marcoleta that he was meddling in the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation into alleged substandard and ghost flood control projects.
Marcoleta, the Blue Ribbon chairman, said Lacson sought to reschedule a committee hearing to prevent him from presiding over the probe. Lacson, who recently delivered a privilege speech on anomalous flood control projects, strongly denied this accusation.
“He (Marcoleta) criticized us, saying we were interfering with his mandate. No one is meddling here. We all just want the government to run properly,” said Lacson.
Marcoleta questioned Lacson’s request to move the Sept. 1 Blue Ribbon hearing, pointing out that the Finance Committee had also scheduled deliberations on the same day.
The Blue Ribbon panel was set to begin its hearing at 9 a.m., while the Finance Committee scheduled a 10 a.m. session led by the Development Budget Coordination Committee on the proposed 2026 national budget.
In his television program, Marcoleta implied that the rescheduling attempt was meant to delay his authority to open the flood control investigation.
Lacson clarified that his request was not meant to downplay the Blue Ribbon inquiry but to ensure lawmakers could attend both sessions.
The veteran lawmaker added that Marcoleta also slammed Senator Francis Pangilinan and Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III for proposing the creation of an independent body to review the flood control controversy.
“I want to correct the misimpression that Senator Marcoleta may be creating. I do not want a fight, but if he picks one with us, I will fight back,” Lacson said.
