Former Senator Franklin Drilon has weighed in on the resignation of Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Accountability, Public Officers and Investigations (Blue Ribbon), which has been probing the alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
In an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel’s (ANC) Headstart on Monday, October 6, Drilon said that Lacson’s resignation is a strong indication of instability within the Senate.
“It is a sign of how unstable our Senate politics and Senate leadership is,” Drilon said.
According to Drilon, Lacson’s decision to step down was a strategic move to ease growing discontent among fellow senators who appeared to be unsupportive of the current Senate leadership.
“Tito can lose his presidency. In the mindset or calculation of Ping, his quitting the Blue Ribbon Committee at peaces or addresses the concern of his fellow senators therefore would maintain Tito Sotto as President,” he explained.
Lacson formally vacated the Blue Ribbon Committee on Sunday, October 5, less than a month after he assumed the position from Senate Deputy Minority Leader Rodante Marcoleta.
“Dahil sa mga naririnig ko na pahiwatig ng aking mga kasamahan eh isa sa mga konsiderasyon ko, mag-move o mag-submit na lang ng aking resignation bilang chairperson at humanap sila ng ibang puwede mag-chairman ng Blue Ribbon committee,” Lacson said in a separate interview.
The Senate temporarily suspended its Blue Ribbon Committee hearings on Saturday, October 4, amid ongoing investigations into the questionable flood control projects.