Senators Panfilo Lacson and Rodante Marcoleta clashed heatedly during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Tuesday, after Marcoleta questioned the investigation’s “integrity, impartiality, and objectivity.”
The clash began when Marcoleta accused Lacson of prejudging the credibility of testimonies favoring former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez over contractors Pacifico “Curlee” and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya.
Marcoleta pointed to a recent media interview in which Lacson said Hernandez was more credible than the Discayas.
In response, Lacson said his statement reflected his personal perspective.
“That’s my personal opinion outside of the hearing or outside of this hall. So, don’t question my opinion,” he told Marcoleta.
Marcoleta insisted that Lacson’s media statement had compromised the impartiality of the Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation.
Lacson subsequently suspended the hearing to address the escalating argument.
During the break, the two senators were heard exchanging heated words.
At one point, Lacson questioned Marcoleta why he was protecting the Discayas.
To this, Marcoleta responded: “I am not protecting them. Buti sinabi mo ‘yan, Mr. Chair. Pwede ba nating i-record ito? Palagi niyong sinasabi I am protective of the Discayas. When I was chairman of this committee, sinabi ko na sa inyo, the only remedy provided under the law is for them to apply, if they qualify, under the process of witness protection program. That’s all what I did.”
Lacson ignored the remark and ordered the hearing to resume.
After the break, Lacson directed former Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara to read his sworn affidavit.
Marcoleta insisted on continuing his line of questioning.
“I will register my continuing objection, Mr. Chair. I will question the objectivity of these proceedings if you will not allow me to raise these points. Maybe in the plenary this afternoon, I will raise it,” he said.
Sotto and senator Ronald dela Rosa intervened, approaching Marcoleta to defuse the tension.
Marcoleta briefly chaired the Blue Ribbon Committee when the 20th Congress convened.
Lacson replaced him after senator Vicente Sotto III replaced senator Francis Escudero as Senate president.
