Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson dispelled rumors of yet another Senate coup on Sunday, October 5, less than a month after Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero was voted out of his seat as Senate president and replaced by Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. This comes as Lacson also expresses his intention to resign from the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which has been investigating anomalies and corruption related to the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) flood control projects.
Lacson expressed his intention to resign in a DZBB Super Radyo interview on Sunday, stating that he had yet to turn in a formal resignation letter and that he was waiting for the Senate to resume its session. “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, adding that Senators JV Ejercito and Win Gatchalian were among those who expressed disappointment in his handling of the flood control probe as Blue Ribbon chair.
Commenting on talks that the minority senators plan to replace Sotto with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate president, Lacson said, “It’s the same old rehashed psywar tactic all over again, intended to confuse and sow intrigue among members of the majority.”
Another Overhaul
Meanwhile, Cayetano suggested that all politicians resign and make way for snap elections. “People have lost trust in government and government officials. Honestly, who can blame them?” he wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday. “So here’s a thought: what if we all just resign and allow a snap election.
From the president, vice president, Senate, and Congress. With one important addition — no incumbent from the above can run for one election cycle.”
In response, Sotto told reporters, “We have no constitutional nor legal framework for snap elections. We will be flirting with uncertainty and chaos.”
Lacson likewise said, “Election, snap or regular, is not the solution. In fact, election campaigns actually add to more corruption of the electorate by the candidates. For a change, how about certainty of punishment of corrupt politicians? The higher the better.”
So, is the Senate unstable? If it’s any indication, Sen. Imee Marcos left the Senate group chat last week, citing alleged finger-pointing among senators.
“Bakit? Ano ba ang laman ng groupchat? Ng session? Ng hearing? Hindi ba’t panggigipit lang sa kapwa senador?” she said on Facebook. The post came after Lacson urged Marcos to join the Blue Ribbon Committee’s hearings on the flood control projects.
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