Marcoleta defends minority report, cites Senate probe delays

Senator Rodante Marcoleta defended the Minority Report on alleged anomalies in flood control projects, saying it was issued amid delays in the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation and growing public frustration over the lack of concrete findings.

In a television interview over the weekend, Marcoleta said the Minority Report was prepared after the committee failed to release even a partial report despite holding several hearings. He noted that public outrage has continued to mount as Filipinos await accountability over allegations involving billions of pesos in public funds.

To support his point, Marcoleta cited a video clip from a previous Kapihan sa Senado press conference in which Senator Panfilo Lacson said the committee was expected to release a partial report before the December break—something that did not materialize.

Marcoleta rejected claims that the Minority Report was “disrespectful” or should be discarded, noting that some critics admitted they had not read the document. He emphasized that the report spans more than 100 pages, with annexes totaling over 400 pages, consolidating testimonies and documents presented during six hearings.

According to Marcoleta, the report details the alleged methods and schemes used in anomalous flood control projects, and includes recommendations, proposed legislative reforms, and a list of individuals who may face possible civil, criminal, or administrative liability. He stressed that the Minority Report was their contribution to the ongoing probe, particularly as no clear timeline has been given for the release of the majority report.

In a separate part of the interview, Marcoleta raised concerns about the conduct of the most recent hearing. He said that instead of maximizing the presence of key personalities, the discussion returned to the issue of inaccurate project coordinates—an issue that had already been addressed in earlier hearings.

He further criticized the focus on the testimonies of two masked witnesses, recalling an instance when the committee chair appeared to answer questions on their behalf. Marcoleta lamented that instead of pursuing leads pointing to serious allegations of massive kickbacks, the investigation risked “going in circles.”

Despite his criticisms, Marcoleta said he remains ready to address these issues when the Senate resumes its plenary sessions.