MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson warned that former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials who recant their sworn statements on alleged corruption involving anomalous flood control projects could face criminal liability, while stressing that such recantation would not derail the ongoing investigation.

Lacson said recanting officials could be held liable for perjury under Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 11594.

“If they will recant, they may be liable for violating the law on perjury, Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code as amended by RA 11594, which raises the penalty for perjury to up to 12 years. This is aside from a penalty of P1 million and perpetual absolute disqualification if the offender is a government official,” Lacson said in an interview on DZBB radio.

He added that even if the officials withdraw their statements, this would not weaken the cases being built, citing the existence of circumstantial and documentary evidence presented in previous Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings.

“Their statements are not standalone evidence. The case won’t die or collapse on the basis of their recantation,” he said.

Lacson said the Department of Justice is investigating the case, while the Anti-Money Laundering Council has initiated the freezing of accounts of some of those involved.

He also noted that former DPWH Bulacan engineers Henry Alcantara and Brice Hernandez had already turned over money and vehicles to the government, which he said indicates an admission of wrongdoing.

Lacson said he is not discounting the possibility that some individuals implicated in the controversy may have reached out to the former DPWH officials through their lawyers.

“I won’t wonder if some of those implicated may have reached out to the ex-DPWH officials through their lawyers,” he said.

Lacson said the next hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on the alleged flood control project irregularities has been set for Jan. 19 at 1 p.m.

He said the committee will subpoena individuals who were previously invited but failed to attend hearings, including former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, former Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar, Meynard Ngu, and former Rep. Elizaldy Co.

“Olaivar and company were invited but did not show up. We already subpoenaed them. If they still won’t show up, we can issue warrants for their arrest,” Lacson said, adding that he would recommend to the Senate President the issuance of arrest warrants if they continue to ignore the summons.

Lacson said the committee also wants to clarify with the Department of Budget and Management and the Office of the Executive Secretary how a Special Allotment Release Order that allowed the release of P50 billion from unprogrammed appropriations was issued on Dec. 27, 2024.

He said the panel may also invite Rep. Leandro Leviste, coursed through the House leadership, if the lawmaker agrees, noting similarities between documents Leviste made public and those in his possession, although he has yet to see the “SAP” and “OP” cited by Leviste.

Asked whether the so-called “Cabral files” would be sufficient to file cases against Cabinet members, Lacson said the documents must first be authenticated by the DPWH.

Meanwhile, Lacson criticized what he described as baseless attacks by Sen. Maria Imelda Josefa Remedios “Imee” Marcos against the Blue Ribbon Committee, which he chairs, noting that she never attended hearings he presided over.

He rejected her claim that he barred senators from linking personalities such as former Speaker Martin Romualdez to the issue, and addressed her allegation that he limited questioning to 10 minutes.

“In the first place, what pressure is she talking about when she never attended any of the hearings I chaired?” he said.

“I have said before that the best response to nonsense is silence. But when she starts insulting, I cannot disregard it anymore. By insulting the Blue Ribbon Committee, she is undermining its integrity. Why does she not attend and ask questions?” he added.

Lacson said he remains puzzled over what he described as efforts by some senators, including Marcos and Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, to disrupt the hearings, after Marcoleta earlier questioned his objectivity.

“The problem is that there are those who want to disrupt the investigation. I don’t know what their end game is,” he said.