Senator Robinhood Padilla called for sobriety and unity in the Upper Chamber following the return of Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson as chairman of the powerful Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

In a Facebook post on Monday, Nov. 3, Padilla acknowledged that political differences make it difficult to stay calm, but warned that hurling mud at one another over the panel’s leadership would not help the institution.

“Mga kababayan ko, ano man ang ating kulay sa pulitika batid ko na mahirap humiling ng kalma, pero hindi po makakatulong sa Senado kung tayo ay magpupukulan pa ng mga putik sa kung sino ang mamuno sa imbestigasyon (My fellow countrymen, whatever our political colors may be, I know it’s difficult to ask for calm, but it will not help the Senate if we keep throwing mud at one another over who should lead the investigation),” Padilla said.

The senator noted that the Blue Ribbon Committee—tasked with investigating corruption and government anomalies—had been struggling to find a leader, joking that it had become a “Red Ribbon” Committee because no one wanted to chair it.

“Naging Red Ribbon na nga po ang Blue Ribbon Committee ng wala ng gustong mamuno dito (The Blue Ribbon Committee has practically turned into a “Red Ribbon” Committee since no one wanted to lead it anymore),” he quipped.

Padilla welcomed Lacson’s return, expressing confidence in his leadership despite differences in political alignment.

He also acknowledged that members of the minority bloc had preferred Senator Rodante Marcoleta for the role but emphasized that the power to appoint the chair lies with the majority bloc.

“Bagamat batid ko po na ang mga kababayan natin na kasama namin sa minority bloc ay pabor kay Senator Rodante Marcoleta pero hindi po natin maipipilit ang kagustohan natin dahil wala po sa minority ang kapangyarihan para magtalaga ng tagapangulo ng komite (Although I know that our fellow countrymen in the Minority bloc favor Senator Rodante Marcoleta, we cannot insist on our preference because the power to appoint the committee chair does not lie with the minority),” Padilla explained.

Padilla urged the public to trust Lacson’s leadership and expressed gratitude that the Blue Ribbon Committee would once again be led by someone from the majority bloc.

“Manalig po muna tayo sa magiging muling takbo ng pamumuno ni Senator Panfilo Lacson. Magpasalamat na rin po tayo at siya ang muling tagapangulo ng komite ng Blue Ribbon mula sa Majority bloc (Let us first place our trust in the renewed leadership of Senator Panfilo Lacson. Let us also be thankful that he is once again the chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee from the Majority bloc),” he said.

He added that Lacson’s appointment was preferable to having the committee led by openly partisan senators, warning that political bickering could further drag the Senate “into quicksand.”

“Kesa po sa ibang mga senador na batid natin at lantaran ang kulay ng pulitika, na maaring pagmulan ng mas mainit na palitan ng mga putik na mas magbabaon sa Senado sa kumunoy/quicksand (Rather than having other senators, whose political colors are openly known, lead the committee, as that could spark even fiercer exchanges of mudslinging that would only drag the Senate deeper into the quicksand),” Padilla concluded.

Lacson said on Saturday, Oct. 25, that he will set the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s next hearing on anomalous flood control projects on Nov. 14, in the event he gets reelected as the panel's chairman once the Senate resumes session on Nov. 10.

Lacson said a "very important witness" will be invited to the hearing to expedite the filing of airtight cases against some politicians, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials, and erring contractors.