MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson criticized the so-called “minority report” on the flood control scandal, saying the document disrespects the committee and the Senate.

“How will I respect a document that symbolizes disrespect towards the Blue Ribbon Committee and the entire Senate?” Lacson said in an interview on DZMM.

He emphasized that under Senate rules, a committee report can only be officially reported out by the Blue Ribbon Committee and must be signed by the majority of its members—not by just six of nine minority members.

“Respect begets respect. How will I as Chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee treat with respect a document that symbolizes disrespect toward the Blue Ribbon Committee and the entire Senate both of which they are members?” Lacson said. “So there is no other place for that ‘minority report’ but the trash bin.”

Lacson said he has not read the 576-page report presented by the minority bloc to Senate media last Tuesday. The report was initially submitted to the Office of the Senate President on December 10 and first shown to the media on December 11.

He also criticized minority members for belittling the hearings he presided over, noting that they are part of the committee and could attend and ask questions during sessions.

“They are members of the committee but now they are nitpicking our hearings. Being members, why don’t they just attend and show the evidence they claim to have?” Lacson said. “It is not wrong to criticize but it should be constructive, and not meant to undermine the Committee.”

Lacson stressed that the Blue Ribbon Committee’s hearings have provided crucial evidence for building cases against several personalities, many of whom are now facing court proceedings.

“So the Blue Ribbon Committee was a great help in addressing the issue. For some to belittle it, that is an insult to the entire Senate,” he said.

When asked about Senate President Vicente Sotto III’s comment that the minority report was made for media purposes, Lacson agreed. “That is the only purpose of the ‘report.’ That ‘minority report’ is not worth discussing because it is not in the rules,” he added.