Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Tuesday said there is no official minority report on the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s flood control inquiry at this time.

Under Senate rules, Sotto said such a document can only be recognized after a main committee report is filed and taken up in plenary.

“There’s no such thing, it only comes after the committee report. Dun lang ine-entertain na may Minority Report (Only then is a Minority Report recognized),” Sotto said in a phone interview with Senate media.

Sotto’s statement came after Senators Rodante Marcoleta and Imee Marcos earlier released to the media a document they described as a minority report on the Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation into alleged flood control anomalies, which they said was submitted to the Office of the Senate President on Dec. 10, 2025.

Sotto said he does not recall receiving any official minority report and explained that even if a document was submitted to his office, it would be considered unofficial as Senate rules require such reports to be filed with the Bills and Index only after the main committee report is submitted.

“Unless it is an official report already in the Bills and Index, at sinubmit na, at itin-take up namin in plenary, then may weight na yan (and it is submitted and taken up in plenary, then it carries weight)… but at the moment it’s a media report,” he said.

He said even committee or majority reports have no official effect unless taken up by the Senate in plenary.

Marcos said she agreed with the contents of the document released to the media, stressing that the investigation should be comprehensive and fearless to ensure accountability.

“Tama ang diin ng minority report na tanging isang komprehensibo, patas, at walang takot na imbestigasyon ang makakasiguro na ang tunay na salarin — ang mga mastermind — ang dapat managot (The minority report correctly emphasizes that only a comprehensive, fair and fearless investigation can ensure that the real culprits—the masterminds—are held accountable),” Marcos said.

Marcoleta, meanwhile, said the term “minority report” was used despite the absence of a main committee report, citing procedural constraints under Senate rules.

“Kasi kung gagawin natin legal ito, hindi pa kami pwedeng maglabas kasi kailangan matapos talaga ‘yung Committee Report (Because if we were to make this legal, we cannot release it yet since the Committee Report must first be completed),” he said.

Sotto reiterated that dissenting or minority views are formally recognized only after the main committee report is filed and calendared, comparing the process to a response that presupposes an existing proposal.

On the Blue Ribbon inquiry, Sotto said the previous hearing was limited by time and that unresolved matters may still be addressed in future hearings.

“Kulang na kulang ang oras. Umattend sila sa susunod para ‘yung mga kulang, maupuan nila (Time was clearly insufficient. They should attend the next hearing so unresolved matters can be addressed),” he said. (PNA)