Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said the Senate may continue its investigation into alleged irregularities in government flood control projects if new evidence and witnesses come forward.
In an interview on Friday, Gatchalian noted that the report submitted by former Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairperson Sen. Panfilo Lacson was only a partial report, leaving open the possibility of further inquiries.
“That depends. It can still proceed if new evidence and new witnesses emerge because, if we recall, the report submitted by Senator Ping Lacson was only a partial report, so it can still continue,” Gatchalian said.
He emphasized, however, that prospective witnesses should first submit affidavits and documentary evidence to allow the committee to evaluate their claims.
“What is important here is that if there is new evidence or new witnesses, they should submit affidavits and documents so the committee can study them,” he said.
Gatchalian also warned against turning Senate hearings into platforms for unsupported allegations.
“What we do not want is for the committee to be used merely for accusations. It is easy to accuse, but what is important is evidence and testimony,” he said.
The flood control investigation became entangled in the recent Senate leadership dispute, with rival blocs led by Gatchalian and former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano conducting separate proceedings related to the issue.
During a June 4 hearing conducted by the Cayetano bloc, 18 individuals represented by lawyer Levito Baligod made allegations linking several public officials to an alleged flood control scandal.
The same group was later invited by the reorganized Blue Ribbon Committee under Sen. Erwin Tulfo to attend a consultative meeting. Although they appeared at the Senate complex, they did not participate in the proceedings and instead proceeded to the office of Sen. Robinhood Padilla.
Referring to the incident, Gatchalian said the group missed an opportunity to present its claims before the committee.
“That was insulting and, to me, it made a mockery of the hearing. It also wasted the opportunity to tell the truth,” he said.
“As far as I’m concerned, they were given the opportunity, but they wasted it.”
Gatchalian added that the pursuit of truth should not depend on political affiliations or personal alliances.
“The truth does not choose sides. Whether the chairman is your ally, not your ally, or someone you do not even know, you should tell the truth,” he said.
