As the newly-appointed Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman, Panfilo “Ping” Lacson cannot recommend the Discaya couple’s designation as state witnesses concerning the flood control projects scandal, he declared on Thursday.

Lacson reasoned that state witnesses must disclose the full truth and not only half of it in the hopes of saving themselves, reported RH 28 Raymund Dadpaas. However, the Discaya’s testimonies at the Senate and House hearings have proven inconsistent and doubtful, Lacson said.

“E kasi nag-retract sila e. Pag dating sa House, iba naman ang sinasabi. So how can they qualify kung hindi definite ‘yung kanilang testimonya?” he explained to reporters in a press conference.

Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla himself rejected the couple’s request to be placed under his agency’s witness protection program (WPP) as he believes the restitution of stolen funds must precede their acceptance.

However, Lacson said the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will continue to examine this issue during its next hearing on September 18.

“Anyway, titingnan natin, baka dumating ‘yung punto na pag nandito sila, mag tell-all, i-evaluate natin. ‘Di ko sinasabing definitely—(pero) puwede natin i-endorso sila sa witness protection program. Pero kung parang opportunistic lang ‘yung kanilang pakay, para sila’y ma-libre sa kaso… At tsaka hindi namin call ‘yun eh,” he said, alluding to Remulla’s prerogative to inlcude them in the WPP.

House Infrastructure Committee Co-Chair Terry Ridon also called the Discayas’ affidavit, presented during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, “selective” in naming those involved in the notorious flood control controversy.