5 senators floated as new Blue Ribbon chair
Some senators are appealing to Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson to reconsider his decision to resign as chair of the powerful blue ribbon committee.
But Lacson, who resigned on Sunday, is firm about his decision.
“When I say no, it’s no. When I say yes, it’s yes. Final answer,” Lacson said when sought for comment.
Five candidates
Senate President Vicente Sotto III also said: “He really doesn’t want to [change it]. Maybe he’d be more effective as a critic. Maybe it becomes a blessing in disguise.”
Sotto has named five of his colleagues who he said are possible candidates to replace Lacson. They are Senators JV Ejercito, Raffy Tulfo, Francis Pangilinan, Pia Cayetano and Risa Hontiveros.
The Senate leader again noted that it is “not a requirement” that the committee chair be a lawyer, though this may be to his or her advantage.
“For me, whoever is recommended by Senator Lacson would have a very strong edge over anybody else,” Sotto said in a TV interview.
Ejercito, however, said while he is thankful about being considered for the position, he believes “there are others who are more capable of holding this important committee.”
He said he still hopes Lacson would reconsider his decision.
Senator Tulfo said he was flattered that he was among those considered for the post.
“However, if offered to me, I will humbly decline for the simple reason that I don’t want to lose focus on my three committee chairmanships that are my main advocacies—labor, migrant workers, and public services,” he said.
‘Principal actors’
In his resignation letter addressed to Sotto on Monday, Lacson noted the “disappointment” that a number of his colleagues have expressed over the “direction” of the committee probing the flood control projects scandal.
“In the course of the current investigation, which has implicated some senators in the flood control mess, a number of our colleagues have expressed disappointment [over] the ‘direction’ of the blue ribbon committee, which this representation chairs,” Lacson said.
“Furthermore, some senators publicly and secretly pursue the narrative that I am zeroing in on several of my colleagues while purportedly protecting those members of the Lower House perceived to be the principal actors in the budget anomalies related to the substandard and ghost flood control projects,” he added.
‘Straightforward’ investigator
“Nothing could be further from the truth. This narrative is categorically false,” Lacson stressed.
Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid is among those hoping Lacson “will stay put” as chair.
“We respect his decision, but we know he is needed here, we know he is very straightforward when investigating. He’s a former cop, he is the ex-Philippine National Police chief,” Lapid told reporters.
“He’s a policeman like Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, like Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa. They will really investigate. They are experts in that field. But I will respect whatever decision Senator Lacson makes,” he added.
Senator Pangilinan also said he was hoping Lacson would reconsider his decision.
“I appeal to Senator Ping to stay on as blue ribbon committee chairman, and appeal as well to our colleagues in the majority bloc to reaffirm our support for him to stay on even as we iron out our differences,” he said.
“While I appreciate Senator Ping’s sensitivity to the sentiments expressed by our fellow senators in the majority as a reason for his resignation, I am still hopeful that with the renewed support of the majority bloc he will be convinced to stay on,” Pangilinan added.
He also said now, more than ever, “our people are looking for stability and certainty in the state of our affairs and looking to the strength of our institutions to withstand the ongoing crisis and resolve it in favor of truth, transparency, and public accountability.”
