“When I say no it’s no, when I say yes it’s yes.”

Senate Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson (Senate PRIB photo)

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said this on Tuesday, October 7 as he declined appeals by fellow senators for him to reconsider his decision to give up chairmanship of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

Earlier, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III floated the names of five senators who could possibly take up the chairmanship of the Blue Ribbon panel after Lacson formally submitted his resignation letter.

Sotto identified them as Senators Risa Hontiveros, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Raffy Tulfo, Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito and Pia Cayetano.

In a statement, Tulfo rejected the possibility of heading the Senate blue ribbon panel which is investigating the anomalous flood control projects.

“I'm very flattered that my name is being considered among four other senators for the prestigious Blue Ribbon Committee chairmanship,” Tulfo said.

“However, if offered to me, I will humbly decline for the simple reason that i don't want to lose focus on my three committe chairmanships that are my main advocacies — Labor, Migrant Workers and Public Services,” he stressed.

Ejercito also echoed the same sentiment: “Salamat sa konsiderasyon para maging Chairman ng Blue Ribbon Committee pero alam ko ang limitasyon ko (I’m thankful for the consideration of making me chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee but I know my limitations).”

“Mas maraming mas may kakayanan na mag-chair ng importanteng commitee na ito (There are other who are more competent to chair this very important committee),” he said.

Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid said he hopes Lacson “will stay put” as Senate blue ribbon panel chairman.

“Nire-respeto natin kung anong mga desisyon niya, pero kailangan siya talaga na alam naman natin, straight yan kung mag-imbestigasyon. Ex-pulis yan, ex-Chief PNP yan (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 pointed out in an interview.

“Pulis kamukha ni Magalong, kamukha ni Bato. Mag-iimbestiga yan. Mas eksperto sila dyan diba. Kaya, okay, kung ano man ang desisyon ni Sen Lacson, ginagalang ko at nirerespeto (He’s a policeman like Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, like Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. They will really investigate. They are experts in that field. That’s why, it’s okay, I will respect whatever decision Sen. Lacson makes),” he said.