Lacson to step down as Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman
Sen. Ping Lacson is set to step down as the chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
The Senate President Pro Tempore announced his resignation on Oct. 5, following an interview where he said he was considering leaving the post.
"No amount of criticisms from misinformed netizens and partisan sectors can distract or pressure me from doing my job right," he said. "But when my own peers start expressing their individual sentiments, maybe it is best to vacate."
"Nevertheless, I will continue to fight a corrupt and rotten system in the misuse and abuse of public funds as I have consistently done in the course of my long years in public service."
On Saturday, Lacson confirmed that the hearing on the alleged anomalous flood control projects set for Oct. 8 was suspended, citing scheduling conflicts and pending documentary evidence.
In an interview with DZBB on Sunday morning, he talked about considering stepping down because of what he was hearing from his colleagues and social media users.
"False 'yung narrative na nasusundan na pinupuntirya ko lang ang aking mga kasamahan at iniiwas ko dun sa sinasabing mga mismong arkitekto ng lahat na ito na sina dating Speaker Romualdez at dating Congressman Zaldy Co," he told DZBB.
"Pero kung ang kasamahan ko sa mayorya, ganun na nga ang tinutumbok na direksyon ng Blue Ribbon Committee hearings eh sino ba naman ako na mag-insist na mag-chair ng committee?"
In his view, Lacson said he's handling the hearings well. "But there are those trying to disrupt the hearings. In one instance, the hearing had barely started when someone tried to make a distraction. That is why there is a perception that the hearings were not handled well," he said.
Lacson has not yet talked to Senate President Tito Sotto about his decision, but he said he was writing a resignation letter to manifest in a plenary session before recess.
Before Lacson, the Blue Ribbon Committee was chaired by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta.
