MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson acknowledged the difficulty of seeing some of his colleagues face charges in the flood control project scandal, but stressed that the investigation must follow the evidence.

“It is not a pleasant thing to see some of our colleagues face charges or jail due to the flood control scandal. But painful as it is, I have always maintained that we will go where the evidence leads us. We will not force ourselves to look for evidence that will target certain people including our colleagues in the Senate,” Lacson said in an interview on DZMM.

The Blue Ribbon Committee chair emphasized that the probe must remain fair and impartial, without targeting or protecting anyone.

“It is painful for me particularly, and for other senators who participate in the hearings. But we cannot do anything about it. If we will investigate mainly in aid of legislation just to cover up for some people, we might as well not investigate at all,” he added.

Lacson noted that he reiterated this commitment in his opening statement during Monday’s committee hearing, underscoring the integrity of the investigation for the benefit of members who actively participated.

During the hearings, documents and testimonies were presented linking several senators to irregularities in flood control projects. Much of the evidence used to build cases against those involved came directly from the committee hearings.

Attempts by some colleagues to belittle the Blue Ribbon Committee’s work, Lacson said, are unfair and insulting to members who contributed to the ongoing investigations conducted by the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice.

“We give copies of the evidence the committee gathered to the Ombudsman and DOJ. Through that, they had enough evidence to establish probable cause, that’s why there are now arrest warrants being issued,” he said.