Lacson Stepping Aside as Blue Ribbon Chairman, But Will Continue Anti-Corruption Drive

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is stepping aside as chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, after some colleagues aired their disappointment over the investigation into anomalous flood control projects.

But Lacson – who noted that all Senate committee chairpersons including the Blue Ribbon are elected by fellow senators and thus serve at the pleasure of their peers – maintained that this will not stop his continuing fight against corruption.

“Since all chairpersons of the Senate committees are elected by our peers, I serve at the pleasure of my colleagues, particularly the members of the majority. Rightly or wrongly, when quite a number of them have expressed disappointment over how I’m handling the flood control project anomalies, I thought it’s time for me to step aside in favor of another member who they think can handle the committee better,” Lacson said.

“No amount of criticisms from misinformed netizens and partisan sectors can distract or pressure me from doing my job right, but when my own peers start expressing their group or individual sentiments, maybe it is best to vacate. Nevertheless, I will continue to fight a corrupt and rotten system in the misuse and abuse of public funds as I have consistently done in the course of my long years in public service,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson Magbibitiw Bilang Blue Ribbon Chairman, Ngunit Ipagpapatuloy ang Laban Kontra Katiwalian

In an interview on DZBB radio earlier Sunday, Lacson said he is preparing his resignation letter and may formally manifest it in plenary when the Senate resumes its session.

Lacson scored the fake news and false narratives that some sectors insisted on circulating – that he is targeting some fellow senators while allegedly protecting members of the House of Representatives perceived to be the “masterminds” of the flood control mess – including former Speaker Martin Romualdez and ex-Rep. Elizaldy Co.

“If you ask me, I would say I handled the hearings well. But there are those trying to disrupt the hearings. In one instance, the hearing had barely started when someone tried to make a distraction. That is why there is a perception that the hearings were not handled well,” Lacson said in Filipino.

*****

Lacson Magbibitiw Bilang Blue Ribbon Chairman, Ngunit Ipagpapatuloy ang Laban Kontra Katiwalian

Magbibitiw bilang chairman ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee si Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson matapos ipahayag ng ilang kasamahan sa Senado ang kanilang pag-aalinlangan sa isinasagawang imbestigasyon hinggil sa mga maanomalyang flood control projects.

Gayunman, iginiit ni Lacson — na nagpaliwanag na ang lahat ng mga chairman ng komite sa Senado, kabilang ang Blue Ribbon, ay halal ng kanilang kapwa senador — na hindi nito mapipigil ang kanyang patuloy na laban kontra katiwalian.

“Since all chairpersons of the Senate committees are elected by our peers, I serve at the pleasure of my colleagues, particularly the members of the majority. Rightly or wrongly, when quite a number of them have expressed disappointment over how I’m handling the flood control project anomalies, I thought it’s time for me to step aside in favor of another member who they think can handle the committee better,” ani Lacson.

“No amount of criticisms from misinformed netizens and partisan sectors can distract or pressure me from doing my job right, but when my own peers start expressing their group or individual sentiments, maybe it is best to vacate. Nevertheless, I will continue to fight a corrupt and rotten system in the misuse and abuse of public funds as I have consistently done in the course of my long years in public service,” dagdag niya.

Ani Lacson sa panayam sa DZBB nitong Linggo ng umaga, inihahanda na niya ang kanyang liham ng pagbibitiw at maaaring ihayag ito sa plenaryo sa oras na ipagpatuloy ng Senado ang sesyon nito.

Binatikos ni Lacson ang mga “fake news” at maling naratibo na ipinakalat ng ilang grupo — kabilang ang akusasyong pinupuntirya niya ang ilang kapwa senador habang umano’y pinoprotektahan naman ang mga miyembro ng Kamara na tinuturing na “masterminds” ng isyu sa flood control projects — kabilang sina dating Speaker Martin Romualdez at dating Rep. Elizaldy Co.

“Kung ako tatanungin, siyempre sasabihin ko maayos ang aking paghandle dangan nga lang laging may gumugulo. Di pa nagsisimula ang pagdinig, pagkatapos ng call to order, may nanggugulo. So doon nagkakaroon ng perception na hindi maganda ang pag-handle,” aniya.

*****