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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Sotto: Lacson frustrated, not stressed amid plans to resign from Blue Ribbon panel

Sotto: Lacson frustrated, not stressed amid plans to resign from Blue Ribbon panel

Published Oct 6, 2025 03:04 pm
Not stress, but rather frustration.
This was how Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III described Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson's sentiments in relation to the latter's plan to resign as chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson (Facebook)
"You know, Senator Lacson is frustrated. He's not stressed. Sanay sa stress yun e (He's used to stress)," Sotto said in a press briefing on Monday, Oct. 6.
"Maghehearing siya may umaangal, bakit naghe-hearing? Pag hindi siya nag-hearing may umaangal, ba't hindi siyea naghe-hearing? Ano ba talaga? (When he holds a hearing, some people complain — ‘Why is he holding a hearing?’ But when he doesn’t, others also complain — ‘Why isn’t he holding one?’ So which is it, really?)" He added.
Lacson announced over the weekend his plan to quit the committee. Lacson said this would appease “those who are causing trouble” and creating a perception that his handling of the Senate’s investigation into the flood control mess is not good.
Asked regarding the majority bloc's perception towards this, Sotto said that most of them said that perhaps Lacson can still be talked into staying.
Whatever his decision his, Sotto said that Lacson has his 100 percent support.
"I will support whatever decision he makes, and I will accept whatever decision he makes, and he has my 100% support, whatever it is," he said.
Sotto said that he has yet to receive a letter from Lacson on his resignation. But for him, the way Lacson ran the hearings was "very good".
"Sinasabi niyang nagpplano siya (He said he's planning to). Until he stands up on the floor. He’s planning to resign. Pwede siyang sumulat, pwede rin sa plenary (He can do it in writing, or do it in plenary). Pero what will happen is that if he does that on the floor or he sends a letter, the only time he's deemed resigned is when we elect a new chairman," Sotto said.
"Unless he says, I'm resigning now and I'm sending the letter, unless he does that, bakante bigla yung Blue Ribbon (the Blue Ribbon Committee will suddenly be vacant)," he added.
If Lacson indeed resigns, Sotto said that his replacement will be left to the members of the majority bloc to decide.
"There are 3-4 members of the Senate who I think would be able to handle it also. Mahirap sundan din ang footsteps ni Sen. Lacson (It’s also hard to follow in Senator Lacson’s footsteps)," he said.
Despite this, the Senate leader stated that the investigations of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, particularly on the anomalous flood control projects in the country, would continue.

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ping lacson Tito Sotto Senate Blue Ribbon Committee flood control probe
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