MANILA, Philippines — A group of lawyers has elevated the battle over the Senate’s controversial flood control investigation to the Supreme Court (SC), filing a petition on Monday, March 2, 2026, to compel the release of the original draft report that allegedly recommends plunder charges against sitting senators.
Lawyers Eldrige Marvin Aceron, Sikini Labastilla, and Purificacion Bartolome-Bernabe filed a petition for mandamus and certiorari, arguing that the public has a constitutional right to see the document.
- The “Secret” Draft: The lawyers want the SC to order the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to release the unredacted draft originally signed by Senators Risa Hontiveros, Kiko Pangilinan, and Bam Aquino.
- Plunder Allegations: According to Committee Chair Panfilo Lacson, the initial version recommended filing plunder and criminal charges against Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva, and Francis Escudero for alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
- Withdrawn Signatures: Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, JV Ejercito, and Sherwin Gatchalian initially signed the draft but later withdrew their support, preventing the report from reaching the required 11 signatures for plenary discussion.
The petitioners argue that because Senator Lacson and others have already discussed the contents of the report publicly since February 3, the document can no longer be considered confidential.
- Transparency: “How are these changes being made? What was the deliberation here? We have the right to know,” Aceron stated, citing Article III, Section 7 of the 1987 Constitution (Right to Information).
- Demands: The petition asks the SC to:
- Order the release of the full, unredacted original draft.
- Require the senators who withdrew their signatures to explain why in writing.
- Force Senator JV Ejercito to inhibit from ethics proceedings involving Senator Escudero.
Senate Pushback
Senator Panfilo Lacson dismissed the petition, stating that a committee report that has not been adopted in a plenary session is “just a draft” and not subject to a court order.
- Senate Position: Lacson argued that internal legislative processes are not “ministerial” duties that can be forced by a mandamus.
- Senate President’s View: Senate President Vicente Sotto III previously supported this stance, noting that if the full committee hasn’t approved the report, it cannot be made public.
The controversy stems from an October 2024 ethics complaint against Senator Escudero involving a ₱30-million campaign donation from a flood control contractor.