Lacson to step down as Blue Ribbon chair
Metro Manila, Philippines - Sen. Ping Lacson is set to resign as the chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee after several members of the majority bloc expressed disappointment in his handling of the flood control investigation.
Lacson also denied rumors of another leadership coup, adding that “it has nothing to do with my decision to resign as chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee.”
“All I can say is — I can handle all the pressure. It’s frustration that’s hard to bear,” he said on Sunday, Oct. 5.
Lacson’s office said he is already drafting his resignation letter, which the veteran lawmaker plans to file once session resumes in November.
He earlier told a radio interview he was considering stepping down from the post.
“Kung nagkukulang na ng pagtitiwala ang aking mga kasamahan, especially mas marami sa kanila hindi na masaya sa aking pagha-handle sa blue ribbon, naisip ko na rin ito maybe stepping down is an option,” Lacson, who is the Senate President Pro Tempore, earlier said.
The pronouncement of Lacson came after Sen. JV Ejercito said he considered leaving the majority as he felt the direction of the investigation was “burning down our own house.”
With the dismay he’s been hearing from his colleagues, Lacson said the majority bloc may look for a new chairperson to the powerful panel investigating alleged wrongdoings in the government.
Lacson earlier canceled the flood control hearing initially scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 8, citing the unavailability of the “tell-all” affidavits of contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya, as well as the court’s findings on alleged violations in witness Orly Guteza’s earlier affidavit.
Guteza linked former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co to alleged kickbacks in flood control projects. He was a surprise witness from Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, the former Blue Ribbon Committee chair.
Lacson added that the hearing also conflicts with the budget deliberations and Commission on Appointments hearings.
The seeming rift among senators was also driven by Lacson’s earlier remarks that “almost all” senators in the 19th Congress inserted at least P100 billion worth of items in the 2025 budget.
The veteran senator earlier explained that budget insertions are not illegal but they become questionable if they were in large amounts.
Blue Ribbon probe should continue
Lacson also believes that the Senate must not end its investigation into flood control anomalies, as such a move would reinforce the allegation that the Blue Ribbon Committee is protecting Romualdez and Co.
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In a radio interview on Saturday, Sen. Win Gatchalian supported calls for the investigation to be turned over to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure so that their chamber won’t be used for any political agenda.
Lacson believes he has a good conduct of the investigation so far. He denied the allegation that the probe is only targeting senators and is following the so-called script of Romualdez.
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“False narrative ‘yun pero mukhang ‘yun na ang pumasok na rin sa isipan ng iba kong kasamahan sa mayorya,” Lacson said, adding he can’t control the perception of others.
[Translation: That is a false narrative but it seems it has entered the minds of my colleagues in the majority bloc.]
