Hontiveros confident Lacson will address issues on minority report

Yesterday, Senators Rodante Marcoleta and Imee Marcos revealed during a joint press conference that they had submitted a minority report, prompting questions on whether proper procedures were followed.

Speaking at a Kapihan sa Senado on Wednesday, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said that although she has yet to read the minority report, she is confident that Sen. Panfilo Lacson will address all issues that need to be resolved.

Questions were raised on whether the minority report complied with the correct process. Hontiveros recalled that during the Sugar Smuggling fiasco, she and former minority leader Koko Pimentel also submitted a minority report.

She said their report was filed after the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee submitted its findings and served as a response containing recommendations. The report was accepted and attached to the main committee report.

On the recent Blue Ribbon hearing, Hontiveros said she remains satisfied since the probe has not yet been adjourned and further hearings are expected, including follow-up sessions with certain resource persons on unresolved issues.

She added that nothing prevents the committee from recalling or summoning resource persons to return.

Another issue raised during the hearing was the mismatched project coordinates, which Hontiveros described as “nakaka-frustrate talaga.” She said it was unacceptable that the coordinates were either identical or too close to each other, stressing that accuracy and precision should have been ensured, especially with engineers involved.

“Nasasayang ang oras, resources, pati ang pasensya ng ating bayan,” she said, noting that the issue would require a reinvestigation and another internal audit.

Hontiveros said she trusts the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI), the Office of the Ombudsman, and the Department of Justice to complete the reinvestigation and re-audit of the coordinates linked to alleged ghost or substandard projects.

She also reacted to contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya’s statement that they were the ones who were robbed, saying the remark left senators “halos mahulog kami sa silya.”

Hontiveros said those seeking coverage under the witness protection program should stop deflecting the probe and begin telling the truth while the Blue Ribbon hearings are ongoing.

“Tigilan na yung holdaper pretending to be the victim, tigilan na yung pagdadahilan,” she said.

She also questioned what she described as the implausible claim that the contractor couple had no paper trail of contracts and legal documents, particularly those dating back to 2016 when they allegedly began receiving large contracts.

Hontiveros said the most critical missing piece is the ledger, which she said would reveal key details. Although there was an earlier commitment to surrender it, she noted that the narrative has since shifted, with repeated excuses and requests for the Department of Public Works and Highways to produce the records instead.

“It is very important and a big missing piece,” she said.

The ledger reportedly contains records covering the first six years of the contractors’ receipt of large sums from major projects starting in 2016.

Another figure mentioned was Bonoan, who denied claims involving the alleged P2 billion. Hontiveros described this as a weak defense, adding that she hopes all issues will be clarified as the hearings continue.