Lacson: Fresh Start, Nothing Else, at Core of Senate Leadership Change Push

A fresh start for the Senate – and nothing else – is at the core of the push of the Senate’s 11-member minority bloc for a leadership change, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed Sunday.

Lacson dismissed speculations that the minority’s move is linked to efforts to amend the Constitution or influence the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

“Sa amin, ang primary or main concern naming 11, ibangon ang Senado. Wala kaming pinaguusapang kailangan palitan natin ng liderato para maitulak natin ng Con-ass, palitan natin ng liderato para ang impeachment mag-convict, wala kami ganun usapan (Our primary or main concern is to restore the Senate’s integrity. We never discussed anything else – not Con-ass, not the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte),” he said in an interview on DZBB radio.

“Yan lang ang mismong pinaguusapan namin na sana pagpalit tayo ng liderato, maibangon namin, magkaroon kami ng fresh start. Kaya napili namin si Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian. At least fresh face at wala siyang kaaway sabihin na natin (We in the minority bloc agreed that our reason for seeking a leadership change is to give the Senate a fresh start. That is why we rally behind Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, he is a fresh face and has no ‘enemies’ among senators),” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Panibagong Simula, Wala Nang Iba, Nasa Sentro ng Panawagan sa Pagbabago ng Liderato sa Senado

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Lacson Debunks Imee’s ‘Con-Ass’ Lies

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Friday dismissed as outright lies the claims of Sen. Maria Imelda Josefa Remedios “Imee” Marcos about a supposed attempt to take control of the Senate leadership to pave the way for constitutional amendments to extend the terms of top government officials – much less to extend the terms of the President and Vice President, and change their age requirements from 40 to 50 in order to disqualify Vice President Sara Duterte.

Lacson said the Senate minority bloc, where he is a member, has never heard of such a tale, much less taken it up during its caucuses.

“Flat lies, outright lies. Kasinungalingan. Walang paguusap kami maski mga caucuses namin. Napakalimit naming mag-caucus sa minority never yan napagusapan never yan nabanggit ang con-ass. Kung may planong mag-conass di namin alam yan. Kung meron man at kung meron kaming narinig di namin alam kung anong end state na gusto nilang makita (Those are flat, outright lies. We never took it up in our caucuses. We meet frequently but never talk about it. Whoever cooked up that tale, we don’t know what they are trying to get at),” he said in an interview on True FM.

In Filipino: Lacson, Pinasinungalingan ang ‘Con-Ass’ na Akusasyon ni Imee

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Lacson Responds to Sen. Pia Cayetano’s Lament vs Minority Bloc

How can anyone check on the members of the majority bloc when they – or some of them – were busy trying to link the minority bloc to a shooting incident inside the Senate building last May 13?

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson thus responded Thursday to Sen. Pilar Juliana “Pia” Cayetano’s lament that none of her colleagues checked on her and fellow majority bloc members during the incident.

“Quote of the day: ‘Wala man lang nangumusta sa amin!’ Paano mo ba naman kukumustahin ang mga masasayang nagkakainan, nagkakape at naka FB Live pa para pagbintangan ang minority bloc na may alam daw sa putukan ng baril sa Senado?” he said in a post on X.

In Filipino: Lacson, Tumugon sa Lamentasyon ni Sen. Pia Cayetano Laban sa Minority Bloc

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Lacson: Time for Senate to Do Right, Restore Dignity

After the Senate itself emerged as the biggest casualty of last Wednesday’s shooting incident, senators must now do what is right to restore its dignity, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Friday.

Lacson said a positive step forward is the Senate’s planned convening into an impeachment court for the case of Vice President Sara Duterte, adding irresponsible insinuations from some senators must end.

“We landed in the international news for the wrong reasons. It was ugly – the shooting in the Philippine Senate as breaking news. So it is time to recover. The word Senate stems from the word ‘senatus’ meaning wise, mature men. So moving forward, we must do what is right and not show immaturity that will worsen the situation,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on True FM.

“As senators we henceforth must self-reflect individually and collectively to perform our duty,” he added. “Moving forward, our focus should be to redeem the Senate from its present situation.”

In Filipino: Lacson: Oras na para Gawin ang Tama at Ibalik ang Dignidad ng Senado

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Lacson Suspends Blue Ribbon Flood Control Hearings Pending His Sponsorship of Partial Committee Report in Plenary

Further hearings of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on the flood control mess are suspended until the panel’s partial report is reported out and sponsored in plenary by Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson.

Lacson said Wednesday that continuing hearings without reaching a logical conclusion in the form of a committee report that senators can debate, amend and adopt on the Senate floor would be pointless and contrary to Senate rules.

He also reminded Blue Ribbon panel members, particularly those from the minority bloc, of their duty including signing the report so it can be reported out, rather than calling for further hearings without fulfilling that responsibility.

“I do not expect any member of the minority to sign. They can offer all kinds of reasons all they want, wise or otherwise, not to fulfill their duties as members. It’s on them, not on the chairman,” he said.

“That said, I am suspending all hearings until I have reported out to sponsor in plenary the partial committee report at the very least,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Sinuspinde ang Pagdinig ng Blue Ribbon sa Flood Control Hangga’t Hindi Niya Naiuulat at Naiisponsor ang Partial Report sa Plenaryo

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