Senate Blue Ribbon panel to cast wider net

Lacson sees broader corruption scandal

- JANVIC MATEO

The public may expect a wider corruption probe that will implicate “bigger names” when the Senate Blue Ribbon committee resumes its investigation next month into alleged flood control project anomalies, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said yesterday.

Lacson declined to provide details as to the identity of the “very important witness” whom he previously said would be invited to the next Blue Ribbon hearing.

But in an interview with “Storycon” on One News, he confirmed that this witness would be able to provide additional details into the alleged corruption scheme involving flood-control projects.

“It’s going to be wider. Some things that didn’t come out in the previous hearing (will surface this time). A new name will come out, a relatively big name,” the senator said in Filipino.

“Let's leave it at that. Once that person is in front of us, we'll hear it directly. We just have to wait until Nov. 14. We'll find out then if (this person will) actually show up,'” he added.

Although "all indications show" that this witness will testify, Lacson said it is still difficult to confirm his participation until that person is in front of the committee.

"I'm just saying, the witness is very important because more names could be added those involved in the payoffs and other related to the ghost flood control projects," he said.

Lacson said the next Blue Ribbon hearing, the earliest of which will be scheduled on Nov. 14, will depend on whether he will be reelected as its chairman when the Senate resumes session.

He earlier resigned after some senators reportedly expressed displeasure over his statements, such as the supposed "insertions" in this year's budget.

However, Lacson confirmed that he is willing to return as committee chairman, provided that there will be no objections from his colleagues.

"We don't know what will happen... (But) if elected, I will accept," he said.