Senate President Vicente Sotto III clarified on Saturday, October 4, that the Senate investigation into alleged irregularities in flood control projects remains active, even after the Blue Ribbon Committee canceled its October 8 hearing.
Sotto denied reports that the probe had been suspended, saying discussions will continue through executive sessions focusing on questionable budgets and infrastructure projects.
Blue Ribbon Committee chair Senator Panfilo Lacson confirmed the postponement, explaining that the delay was due to incomplete documents and scheduling conflicts with budget and Commission on Appointments hearings. He said the hearing, originally requested by Senator JV Ejercito, was intended to summon a former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official from Mimaropa.
According to Lacson, the session was deferred because the affidavits of contractor-couple Curlee and Sarah Discayas were not yet finalized, and the committee was still verifying the authenticity of a notarized statement previously submitted by witness Orly Guteza.
Lacson added that invitations to former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and resigned congressman Zaldy Co will be discussed in the next hearing.
The delay comes amid growing tension within the Senate, as several lawmakers voiced concerns about the direction of the Blue Ribbon investigation. Senator Ejercito earlier expressed frustration over what he described as a probe that “burns down our own house” by targeting senators while overlooking House members allegedly linked to the controversy.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, while maintaining support for Sotto’s leadership, proposed transferring the investigation to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to ensure impartiality. He argued that an independent body would be better suited to handle the probe without political bias.
“We’re all politicians here, and it can’t be avoided that we each have our own agenda. So to remove political agenda, it’s best to turn this over to the ICI,” Gatchalian said.
He also emphasized that the Senate should prioritize passing the 2026 national budget and addressing pressing national concerns such as earthquake and typhoon recovery. Gatchalian praised Sotto for being “hands-on” in ensuring a transparent budget process, adding that regular consultations among senators were helping strengthen the chamber’s legislative work.
