Senate probe into flood control corruption to proceed, says Lacson

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson affirmed that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee's investigation into alleged corruption in flood control projects will proceed.

He emphasized that the Senate probe and the independent commission's investigation should be complementary, not competing, and they must coordinate closely.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee's next hearing is scheduled for September 18, with officials from the DPWH, DBM, and private contractors expected to be summoned.

Lacson stated the committee will continue its work guided by a "blindfold mentality," placing evidence over personalities.

Evidence gathered by the Senate may be shared with the independent commission for prosecution, and vice versa.

The P355-million insertion in the 2025 budget, a subject of the investigation, has highlighted the need to identify proponents of amendments or insertions during budget crafting.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) through Executive Order No. 94 to investigate irregularities in government infrastructure projects.