MANILA — Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday said the planned filing of plunder and other charges against Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva over their alleged involvement in the flood control scam validates the findings of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

In a statement, Lacson said Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla’s announcement to pursue cases before the Sandiganbayan supports the committee’s earlier work on the controversy.

“Ombudsman (Jesus Crispin) Remulla’s announcement that plunder, malversation, and other cases will soon be filed with the Sandiganbayan against the same government officials implicated in the Blue Ribbon Committee’s partial report on the flood control anomaly is a vindication of our findings and recommendations,” Lacson said in a statement.

He added that while it is difficult to see fellow lawmakers facing possible charges, he maintained that the inquiry should follow where the evidence leads.

“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,” he added.

Lacson also stressed that the Senate panel’s investigation was not driven by personal considerations.

“We will not force ourselves to look for evidence that will target certain people, including our colleagues in the Senate,” he said.

The senator previously chaired the Blue Ribbon Committee until a leadership change in the Senate on May 11, when Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa reappeared after months of absence and helped install Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate President.

He has since been replaced by Senator Pia Cayetano as Blue Ribbon Committee chair.

Lacson said the committee report on the flood control issue failed to gather enough signatures to be elevated to the plenary.

He earlier said the report was expected to recommend criminal and administrative charges against several officials, including Senators Estrada, Villanueva, Francis “Chiz” Escudero, former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, and former Caloocan Rep. Mitch Cajayon-Uy.

The officials involved have all denied the allegations.