LOOK: Lacson formally tenders resignation as Blue Ribbon chair
At A Glance
- Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson cited the disapproval of some of his colleagues in the panel's ongoing investigation into the anomalous flood control projects as the reason for his resignation.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Monday, October 6 formally submitted his resignation as chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
In his letter to Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Lacson informed his decision to tender his resignation as the chairman of the Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations, also known as blue ribbon committee.
Lacson cited the disapproval of some of his colleagues in the panel’s ongoing investigation into the anomalous flood control projects as the reason for his resignation.
“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 with the ‘direction’ of the Blue Ribbon Committee, which this representation chairs,” Lacson said in his letter to the Senate leader.
“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.
“Nothing could be further from the truth. This narrative is categorically false. These misrepresentations are being floated mostly by critics opposed to our efforts to get to the bottom of the flood control anomalies. We go where the evidence leads us, not by the noise coming from highly partisan political persuasions,” added the lawmaker.
Lacson said that since he is elected in plenary, primarily by the majority bloc, his chairmanship of the blue ribbon contingent is based on the confidence and pleasure of his fellow senators.
“To all my colleagues, let me reiterate: there are no political considerations in any and all my actions related to my handling of the committee hearings and other related activities,” he said.
“Truth is, I do not need to amass political capital much less at the expense of anybody because I entertain no further political plans after my term ends in 2031,” added the lawmaker.
“Having said all that, I hereby tender my resignation as the chairman of the Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations otherwise known as the Blue Ribbon Committee,” he stressed.