Lacson gives up blue ribbon post: Tired of losing friends, creating foes

MANILA,  Philippines — Saying he was tired of losing old friends and creating new enemies, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said he “intentionally and voluntarily relinquished” the chairmanship of the Senate blue ribbon committee (BRC), which has been investigating the flood control projects scandal.

Lacson headed the blue ribbon panel during the time of then-Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, but he lost the committee chairmanship to Sen. Pia Cayetano after the latter’s brother, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, took over the chamber’s leadership last May 11.

READ: Alan Cayetano is now Senate president

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Barely a month after, Alan Peter Cayetano was removed and replaced by new Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian.

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READ: Gatchalian is new Senate president

In nominating Sotto to be the Senate president pro tempore on Wednesday, Lacson mentioned why he gave up the BRC post.

“Number one, I am tired of losing old friends and creating new enemies. And number two, there are other colleagues who are equally, if not more qualified than this humble representation to take on the job,” Lacson said.

“If there were no takers, I was willing, albeit, with a heavy heart to retain and continue sitting as chairman and resume a duty that I am morally and obligated to perform,” he added.

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It was during his investigation of the flood control mess that several  government officials and several lawmakers have been dragged into the controversy.

Among those implicated were incumbent Sens. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, who is now detained in a Quezon City  jail for a non-bailable plunder case and graft charge.

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All three were part of the Cayetano bloc, until Escudero and Villanueva joined the new 13-member majority bloc.

Villanueva and Escudero earned praises from Lacson for responding to the higher calling of the institution, which has been embroiled in a leadership dispute.

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“Mr. President, I think I will be remiss of my duty and responsibility as a senator, colleague, and friend, if I didn’t thank and commend our two distinguished colleagues, Senator Chiz Escudero and Senator Joel Villanueva, for responding to their higher calling for this chamber, our beloved institution known as the Philippine Senate. Higher than their friendships, their affiliations, and every individual member of this body. Even higher than themselves,” Lacson said. /das