Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday announced that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will resume its investigation into the flood control scandal on Thursday, June 4.
“A subcommittee will be formed and Senator (Rodante) Marcoleta will issue the notices on Monday para ituloy na sa Thursday (June 4) y’ung flood control scam hearings,” Cayetano said in a Facebook Live.
“It will be impartial and we want the whole truth and not only some truth, or some true and some not true to come out,” he added.
Cayetano asked for prayers as preparations are under way for the probe. “Sana po y’ung witnesses, sama-sama pong lakasan na po ang loob niyo. Basta ang kailangan lang, hindi pwede mag-witness y’ung magsisinungaling. Magsabi lang po parati ng totoo,” he said.
Under Cayetano’s leadership, the Blue Ribbon Committee is chaired by Senator Pia Cayetano, with Marcoleta as head of the subcommittee that will investigate the flood control scandal.
The committee has undergone two leadership changes in relation to the controversial flood control probe: first under Senator Marcoleta during the term of Senator Francis Escudero as Senate President, and later under Senator Panfilo Lacson during the leadership of Senator Vicente Sotto III.
Lacson conducted a series of high-profile hearings that implicated several lawmakers, including three senators. However, the committee has so far released a partial report signed by only seven senators and is short of the minimum nine signatures required for it to be sponsored and brought to the plenary floor for debates.
With the resumption of the hearings, Cayetano urged the public to closely monitor the proceedings in the same way Filipinos are following the impeachment process in the Senate.
He said the Blue Ribbon Committee must zero in on the real masterminds behind the alleged billions-worth of irregularities, emphasizing that all officials, regardless of rank or political affiliation, should be held accountable if evidence of wrongdoing emerges.
He also pointed to conflicting assertions among various government officials.
“Kung makikita ninyo, may conflict na kaagad. Ang sabi ng Ombudsman, mayroong mastermind. Ang sabi naman ni Senator Lacson, walang mastermind. Sabi ni Senator Lacson, ito y’ung mga dapat hindi imbitahin. Sabi naman ni Senator Marcoleta, ito dapat ang imbitahin,” Cayetano said.
“So I am inviting the whole public, bantayan ninyo ang Senado in the same manner that we are on trial when we have the impeachment. We have to hold everyone accountable pagdating dito sa flood control (scandal),” he said.
Cayetano stressed that the Senate’s responsibility is to uphold transparency and ensure that public funds are properly spent, especially on projects that directly affect communities vulnerable to flooding.
He also said the Senate Majority remains committed to carrying out its duties independently while addressing issues that directly impact the lives of Filipinos.
“Meron kayong Senado na lalaban at hahanapin ang katotohanan. Merong mga senador sa Majority na handang makulong ilaban lang ang prinsipyo na independent ang Senate,” he said.
“But our country is worth it. So if you ask me what you can do for us, pray for us. Pray that we stick together, that this Majority will be given a chance. But pray din na walang cover up, kahit sino man,” he added.