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Advocates Philippines
Lacson To Quit Blue Ribbon Chair, But Vows Fight Against Corruption Isn't Over
Photo credit: Senate PH
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson is stepping aside as chairman of the powerful Senate Blue Ribbon Committee — a move prompted by dissatisfaction among some of his colleagues over how he handled the probe on anomalous flood control projects.
But if anyone thinks this means Lacson is slowing down, they’re mistaken. The veteran senator made it clear: his crusade against corruption is far from over.
“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. 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,” Lacson explained.
He emphasized that while criticism from netizens and political rivals doesn’t shake him, feedback from his fellow senators is a different matter.
“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.
Still, Lacson was firm that his fight against a corrupt and rotten system will continue.
“I will continue to fight the misuse and abuse of public funds as I have consistently done in my long years in public service,” he vowed.
Lacson revealed that he is already preparing his resignation letter and may formally submit it in plenary once Senate sessions resume.
He also pushed back against what he called “fake news and false narratives” — accusations that he was shielding House members allegedly linked to the flood control scandal, including former Speaker Martin Romualdez and ex-Rep. Elizaldy Co.
“If you ask me, I would say I handled 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,” Lacson said.
But if anyone thinks this means Lacson is slowing down, they’re mistaken. The veteran senator made it clear: his crusade against corruption is far from over.
“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. 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,” Lacson explained.
He emphasized that while criticism from netizens and political rivals doesn’t shake him, feedback from his fellow senators is a different matter.
“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.
Still, Lacson was firm that his fight against a corrupt and rotten system will continue.
“I will continue to fight the misuse and abuse of public funds as I have consistently done in my long years in public service,” he vowed.
Lacson revealed that he is already preparing his resignation letter and may formally submit it in plenary once Senate sessions resume.
He also pushed back against what he called “fake news and false narratives” — accusations that he was shielding House members allegedly linked to the flood control scandal, including former Speaker Martin Romualdez and ex-Rep. Elizaldy Co.
“If you ask me, I would say I handled 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,” Lacson said.
Oct 6, 2025
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