APRIL 10, 2026 — The Senate’s Blue Ribbon Committee has once again hit pause on its investigation into anomalous flood control projects, and the reason is as political as it is procedural. Senator Panfilo Lacson, who chairs the committee, announced that the April 14 hearing would be deferred until former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson submits a sworn affidavit. Without it, and without five more senators signing the partial committee report, the probe cannot move forward to the plenary.

At first glance, this looks like a technical delay. But scratch the surface and you’ll see the makings of a political drama that we have seen too many times before: hearings postponed, reports unsigned, and testimonies hanging in limbo.

Lacson explained in his April 7 letter to Singson: “The Committee has deemed it necessary to reschedule the public hearing contingent on the mitigation of the current National Energy Emergency and the formal submission of your sworn affidavit, including all pertinent supporting documents.” 

He added that the committee had already invited Singson twice — first via email on March 25, then through a letter delivered to his residence on April 6. The deadline for the affidavit was April 7. No affidavit, no hearing.

But Singson tells a different story. Speaking to GMA News, he said he was ready to submit his affidavit on April 7, only to be told that the hearing had been deferred. 

“Wala naman silang sinabi na mag-reply ako eh, ang sabi lang mag submit lang. Noong magsa-submit na ako, may notice na … Sila nag-cancel, hindi ako,” he said. 

(They didn’t say I had to reply, they only said I had to submit. When I was about to submit, there was already a notice … They canceled, not me.)

He added, “Umaasa pa rin ako na may isang salita si Senator Lacson na tatawagin ako sa Senado para tulungan sila.” 

(I still hope Senator Lacson will keep his word and call me to the Senate to help them.)

The committee’s partial report, signed so far by Lacson, Risa Hontiveros, Kiko Pangilinan, and Bam Aquino, recommends a preliminary investigation into several figures, including Senators Chiz Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, and Joel Villanueva. But without nine signatures, the report cannot be elevated to the Senate floor. 

Lacson admits that if he fails to gather the numbers, he may instead deliver a Chairman’s Report and forward all documents to the Ombudsman. That way, at least, the evidence from seven hearings won’t go to waste.

Now here’s where the public should pay attention. Flood control projects are not abstract policy debates — they affect lives. Every rainy season, Metro Manila and provinces across Luzon brace for waist-deep floods, ruined homes, and paralyzed traffic. Billions of pesos are poured into flood control infrastructure, yet year after year, the same streets drown. If these projects are riddled with anomalies, then taxpayers are literally watching their money wash away.

For us, the frustration is palpable. Every time hearings are postponed, it feels like justice delayed. Every time reports are unsigned, it feels like accountability dodged. And every time affidavits are demanded but not received, it feels like the truth is being kept at arm’s length.

The question now is whether Lacson’s committee will push through, or whether this probe will join the long list of investigations that started with fire but ended in smoke. Singson says he’s ready. Lacson says he’s waiting. 

The public, meanwhile, is left wondering: When will we reap the fruits of true accountability in public service?

(Image: Philippine News Agency)