Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Sunday announced his resignation as chairperson of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, citing disappointment from some of his colleagues over how he handled the investigation into alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
Lacson said he decided to step down after sensing that several senators were dissatisfied with his leadership of the committee.
“Since all chairpersons of the Senate committees are elected by our peers, I serve at the pleasure of my colleagues, particularly the members of the majority,” Lacson said.
“Rightly or wrongly, when quite a number of them have expressed disappointment over how I’m handling the flood control project anomalies, I thought it’s time for me to step aside in favor of another member who they think can handle the committee better.”
He added that public criticisms did not influence his decision, but the sentiments of his peers did.
“No amount of criticisms from misinformed netizens and partisan sectors can distract or pressure me from doing my job right, but when my own peers start expressing their group or individual sentiments, maybe it is best to vacate,” he said.
Despite stepping down, Lacson vowed to continue fighting corruption and the misuse of public funds.
“Nevertheless, I will continue to fight a corrupt and rotten system in the misuse and abuse of public funds, as I have consistently done throughout my long years in public service,” he said.
In an earlier radio interview, Lacson said he was considering resigning if his colleagues had lost trust in him.
The senator said he will formalize his resignation during the next Senate plenary session.
Lacson also announced the suspension of the Blue Ribbon Committee’s hearings on the flood control probe due to the unavailability of documents from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), as well as conflicts with other Senate inquiries and budget deliberations.
Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and resigned Representative Zaldy Co were among those invited to the next hearing before its postponement.
Lacson assumed the Blue Ribbon Committee chairmanship last month after Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III replaced Francis “Chiz” Escudero as Senate President.
