Veteran senator ‘Ping’ Lacson explains guidelines in the conduct of the Senate’s probe on the flood control scandal. (Photo from YouTube)
Following a spate of resignation in various agencies of government, Senator Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson stepped down as chair of the Senate’s Blue Ribbon Committee amid the ongoing investigations on irregularities in several infrastructure development projects, particularly those concerning flood control initiatives.
Lacson reportedly quit the post as criticisms were thrown against him regarding his leadership of the Senate’s flood-control probe, citing that “rightly or wrongly, when quite a number of (his colleagues) have expressed disappointment over how (his) handling the flood control project anomalies, (he) thought it’s time for (him) to step aside in favor of another member who (. . .) can handle the committee better.”
“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 pointed out.
After several hearings, fellow senators had expressed disappointment, particularly from senators Joseph Victor ‘JV’ Ejercito and Sherwin ‘Win’ Gatchalian, and thus has prompted Lacson to tender his resignation which may be formally submitted to the plenary session once the Senate resumes its session following a much-needed break.
“(There have been) fake news and false narratives from other groups accusing (me) of targeting some of (my) colleagues, while allegedly protecting some members of the House of Representatives, specifically ex-House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and former Ako-Bicol partylist representative Elizaldy ‘Zaldy’ Co,” he asserted.
Despite this though, Lacson asserted that he “handled the hearings well,” but he alluded that “there are those trying to disrupt the hearings,” which he said could be the reason why some believe the hearings were not being conducted properly.
“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,” the veteran legislator stressed to conclude.
