MANILA — Senate President Vicente Sotto III said there is currently no official minority report on the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s inquiry into alleged flood control anomalies.

Under Senate rules, Sotto explained, a minority report is recognized only after the main committee report is filed and taken up in plenary.

“There’s no such thing, it only comes after the committee report. Dun lang ine-entertain na may Minority Report,” he said in a phone interview with Senate media.

Sotto’s statement followed the release of a document by Senators Rodante Marcoleta and Imee Marcos, which they described as a minority report submitted to the Office of the Senate President on December 10, 2025. Sotto said he does not recall receiving an official report, and even if submitted, it would remain unofficial until filed with the Bills and Index and taken up in plenary.

“Unless it is an official report already in the Bills and Index, at sinubmit na, at itin-take up namin in plenary, then may weight na yan… but at the moment it’s a media report,” Sotto said. He added that even committee or majority reports carry no official effect unless calendared in plenary.

Marcos said she agreed with the contents of the document released to the media, stressing that the investigation must be comprehensive and fearless to ensure accountability.

“Tama ang diin ng minority report na tanging isang komprehensibo, patas, at walang takot na imbestigasyon ang makakasiguro na ang tunay na salarin — ang mga mastermind — ang dapat managot,” she said.

Marcoleta said the term “minority report” was used despite the absence of a main committee report, citing procedural constraints under Senate rules.

“Kasi kung gagawin natin legal ito, hindi pa kami pwedeng maglabas kasi kailangan matapos talaga ‘yung Committee Report,” he said.

Sotto reiterated that dissenting or minority views are formally recognized only after the main committee report is filed and calendared, likening it to a response that presupposes an existing proposal.

He noted that the previous Blue Ribbon hearing was limited by time and that unresolved matters may still be addressed in future sessions.

“Kulang na kulang ang oras. Umattend sila sa susunod para ‘yung mga kulang, maupuan nila,” Sotto said.