Senate blue ribbon cancels flood control hearing over missing documents

The Senate blue ribbon committee has cancelled its hearing ‘until further notice’ on alleged anomalies in flood control projects due to the unavailability of key documents, chairperson Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson confirmed on October 4.

Lacson said he had initially set the hearing on October 8 upon the request of Senator JV Ejercito to summon former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Mimaropa regional director Gerald Pacanan.

Pacanan was among 10 DPWH officials issued show-cause orders to explain their alleged lavish lifestyles and links to substandard projects.

Lacson explained that he checked with the Department of Justice (DOJ) on whether the supposed “tell-all” affidavit of the Discayas, whistleblowers in the case, was available for use during the hearing.

He also inquired with the Manila Regional Trial Court on the status of its investigation into possible violations of the notarized document involving TSgt Guteza and Atty. Espera.

“Having been informed that both would not be ready within one week, not to mention that the BRC hearing will be in conflict with the budget and CA hearings, I informed SP Sotto of the cancellation until further notice,” Lacson said.

The Senate hearing was expected to tackle corruption allegations linking DPWH officials to kickbacks and irregularities in government flood control projects.

The cancellation came just days after the House of Representatives also suspended its own infrastructure probe to give way to the newly created Independent Commission for Infrastructure.