MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said he is preparing a Chairman’s Progress Report on alleged anomalies in flood control projects to pave the way for the resumption of Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings.

In a report, Lacson, who chairs the committee, said the report will consolidate findings from previous hearings and serve as a basis for further proceedings and possible case buildup by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of the Ombudsman.

“We have drafted a Chairman’s Progress Report. I cannot report out the partial committee report on the Senate floor due to the lack of needed signatures. So to get it over with, I have thought of drafting the Chairman’s Progress Report, which has a precedent,” he said in an interview over DZBB radio in a mix of English and Filipino.

“We owe it to the Filipino people. The Blue Ribbon Committee has conducted eight hearings on the matter but has yet to come up with even a partial report,” he added.

Lacson said the planned progress report will include evidence gathered during the hearings, along with visual aids intended to help the public understand the findings once presented in plenary.

He also said he remains open to additional senators signing the partial committee report so it can be formally sponsored on the Senate floor.

“Rendering the chairman’s progress report is as good as sponsoring the partial report,” he said, adding that it could allow hearings to resume and provide the DOJ and Ombudsman with a clearer basis for investigation.

Lacson said the Ombudsman had informally requested a copy of the committee’s partial report, which is still under review since it has not been tackled in plenary.

“The Office of the Ombudsman informally asked for a copy of our partial report. We are studying if this can be done especially as the partial report has not been tackled on the Senate floor,” he said.

He added that integrating the committee’s findings with other agencies’ work would help strengthen the investigation.

“We must help each other and integrate our efforts so the investigation will be clearer,” he said.

Lacson also said he plans to invite former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez again to future hearings, following his earlier statements on the issue involving alleged irregularities in flood control projects.

“So long as there are aspects to the issue that his participation is needed—and it seems that way because he needs to clarify some of his recent statements—we’ll keep inviting him,” he said.

He added that it would be useful if Romualdez faces former Akbayan Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co and other individuals who had testified regarding alleged kickbacks tied to flood control projects.

“I am not a judge but I have experience in investigation and intelligence. It is important to observe their demeanor,” Lacson said.

He also said the committee will follow the evidence wherever it leads, including possible implications involving Malacañang or President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., though he noted that allegations against the President remain unverified since they were not made under oath.