The Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on alleged flood control anomalies set for next week has been cancelled, the committee’s chair and Sen. Ping Lacson confirmed Saturday.
In a Viber message, Lacson said he already informed Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III of the cancellation ‘until further notice.’
According to Lacson, he initially scheduled a hearing on Wednesday, October 8, upon the request of Sen. JV Ejercito to summon former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Mimaropa regional director Gerald Pacanan.
Pacanan was included in 10 DPWH officials who received a show-cause order from Secretary Vince Dizon to explain their reported lavish lifestyle and involvement in substandard projects.
‘To maximize the discussions, I checked with the DOJ if the supposed ‘tell-all’ affidavit/s of the Discayas were already available. Corollary to that, I also checked with the office of the executive judge of Manila RTC if they have concluded the investigation on the possible violations of the notarized document involving TSgt Guteza and Atty Espera,’ Lacson likewise said in the message.
The senator said both of the affidavits and the notarized document would not be ready within a week.
‘Having been informed that both would not be ready within one week, not to mention that the BRC hearing will conflict with the budget and CA hearings, I informed SP Sotto of the cancellation until further notice,’ said Lacson. /mr