THE Senate majority bloc met Monday to discuss concerns of some senators about the draft report of the Blue Ribbon Committee, which includes recommendations that three senators be charged for allegedly receiving kickbacks on anomalous flood control projects.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Monday declined to provide details of the meeting, noting that it was an executive session with some members of the executive department, including Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon and some officials of the Anti-Money Laundering Council.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, said the draft report was still a “work in progress.”
But he said the substance and some recommendations in the report would remain, including the recommendation that charges be filed against fellow Sens. Francis Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva, for allegedly receiving kickbacks from flood control projects.
In a radio interview on Sunday, Lacson said that so far, the committee found no basis to link President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the flood control fund scandal.
Lacson said the report needed at least 11 signatures before it can be presented to the plenary.
Sen. Erwin Tulfo, who was present in the meeting, said he was not sure whether it can generate 11 signatures. He has yet to read the 400-page draft report.
Tulfo said some fellow senators are hesitant to sign it.
“They are saying that it lacks something while others find it strongly worded,” he said.
The Blue Ribbon Committee is composed of 17 regular members, with Lacson as its chairman and Tufo as its vice chairman. Majority bloc members include Sens. JV Ejercito, Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino, Pia Cayetano, Sherwin Gatchalian, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Francis Pangilinan, Raffy Tulfo, and Mark Villar. The minority has six seats, held by Villanueva, Rodante Marcoleta, Ronald dela Rosa, Estrada, Bong Go, and Imee Marcos. Ex-officio members include Juan Miguel Zubiri, majority floor leader; and Alan Peter Cayetano, minority floor leader.
Aside from Sotto, Lacson, and Tulfo, present during the meeting were Legarda and Raffy Tulfo.
Erwin Tulfo said the caucus was “like a consultation because the committee hearings [are almost complete]. The committee report just needs some polishing.” “Where [do] we stand right now? Do we have enough evidence? My question was... do we have an airtight case? If not, what are we talking here?” he said.