Evidence, not “noise,” will indict and convict those behind corruption in anomalous flood control projects, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said as the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee resumed its probe.
Lacson slammed “skeptics, detractors, and hijackers” for twisting public anger and said criticism will not derail the investigation.
“Your noise will not silence the truth; neither does it provide any help in our investigation. Your noise cannot convict – and won’t even indict the malefactors in this flood control mess. Only evidence does,” he said, even telling critics to “shut the f… up.”
The senator rejected claims that the Blue Ribbon Committee is useless, calling them an insult to Filipinos who have followed the hearings, including clergy, students, and workers, and credited the probe and media coverage for exposing “unbridled and systemic corruption.”
Lacson said the committee uncovered top-to-bottom misuse of public funds involving high-ranking officials in the executive and legislative branches, and even the Commission on Audit. Some are now facing cases before the Sandiganbayan and courts, while others are under investigation by the Ombudsman and DOJ.
At least P21.7 billion in bank accounts and assets have been frozen by the Court of Appeals, while some individuals have agreed to cooperate and return funds as the government builds cases for plunder, malversation, falsification, and graft.
The hearings also exposed conflicts of interest in the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board, blacklisted firms resurfacing under new names, license-renting, and billion-peso contracts awarded to undercapitalized companies.
Lacson said the probe led to major transparency reforms in the budget process, including livestreamed and open bicameral meetings and clearer safeguards against vague infrastructure projects.
“We always go where the evidence leads us. We do not target any particular person; nor do we have the intention to cover up for anybody,” he said.IMT
