Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee chairperson Panfilo “Ping” Lacson fired back at critics during a committee hearing on Monday, 18 January.

“Your noise will not silence the truth. Neither does it provide any help in our investigation. Your noise cannot convict and won’t even indict the malefactors in this flood control mess—only evidence does,” he said.

Lacson emphasized that branding the committee as “useless” is not only insensitive to its members but also an insult to Filipino protesters and members of the media who exert effort to bring the details of the hearing to the public in order to raise awareness and uncover the truth.

“With all that being said, as the chairman of this committee, I say to you: shut the f up,” Lacson said.

Among those who attended the hearing were former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan, who is allegedly involved in lawmakers’ budget allocations; businessman Maynard Ngu, who is accused of being a “bagman” for former Senate President Chiz Escudero; and former Department of Education undersecretary Trygve Olaivar, who is accused of facilitating kickbacks from infrastructure projects.