Blue Ribbon probe absentees to be cited in contempt

January 27, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Several resource persons summoned by the Senate Blue Ribbon committee are now “ripe for contempt” for repeatedly failing to attend hearings on flood control anomalies, committee chairman Sen. Panfilo Lacson said yesterday, stressing that formal action would be taken at the panel’s next hearing.

Lacson said nearly all of those issued show-cause orders for skipping last week’s hearing could be cited in contempt and detained, noting that the reasons given for their absence were not convincing.

Among them are fugitive former congressman Zaldy Co, his alleged bagmen Mark Ticsay and Paul Estrada; witness Orly Guteza and commissioner Mario Lipana of the Commission on Audit.

“Ripe for contempt. But there has to be a hearing to formally cite them in contempt,” Lacson, who is also Senate President Pro-Tempore, told reporters.

Except for Co who is abroad, he said “practically all of them” would be cited.

Lacson underscored that the committee would apply its rules uniformly, even for those claiming to be hospitalized.

“Let’s (be) uniform in applying the rules. Accepting the excuses of some who are in the hospital while rejecting those of the others is unfair,” he said.

Lipana has been on medical leave as commissioner since last year.

Lacson also said the committee is close to completing a partial committee report on the flood control investigation. “Maybe two at most three,” he said when asked how many more hearings remain. No dates have yet been set for the remaining hearings.

Meanwhile, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has not received a letter from Malacañang ordering its termination.

Asked by reporters yesterday if the ICI has received notification from the Palace about its disbanding, executive director Brian Keith Hosaka replied, “None.”

“We are still finalizing the ICI’s report as stated in our press statement,” Hosaka said.

The fact-finding body on Jan. 16 said it is already summarizing its “accomplishments” in a report to be submitted to the Office of the President, as the commission’s fate hangs in the balance.

Sen. Imee Marcos earlier said she received information from an unnamed source that the ICI will cease to exist on Feb. 1, but the Palace refuted such claims, saying the commission’s work remains unhampered.

President Marcos has not named any replacements for commissioners Rogelio Singson and Rossana Fajardo since their resignation in December. With only chairman Andres Reyes Jr. remaining, the ICI is technically powerless to perform its duties.

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