Senator Imee Marcos revealed on Thursday, October 2, that she has left the group chat of her fellow senators after Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson advised her to read the group messages.
“Bakit? Ano ba ang laman ng groupchat? ng session? ng hearing? Hindi ba’t panggigipit lang sa kapwa senador? Samantalang sa Kongreso ay si Zaldy Co lamang,” Marcos said in a statement, attaching screenshots of her exit from the group chat named “20th Congress Senators.”
The senator recalled how the group chat was previously used for coordination during crises. “Noon, kapag may sakuna o delubyo, lahat ng senador, sa tulong ng pamumuno nito ay nagkukumahog manawagan ng pakikiisa, nagpapaikot ng ambagan,” she said. “Ngayon, ito ang inaatupag, SIRAAN, na mas malala pa sa lindol.”
She further defended her work as a legislator. “Ayoko dyan. Ang gusto ko ay magtrabaho, kung tunay kayong nakikinig sa sessions alam sana ninyong nakapagpasa na ako ng 2 International Treaties at naghain na ako ng bagong Coop Code,” she stressed.
“Mula nang mahalal noong Mayo, meron na akong 3 batas, Barangay at SK term extension, Konektadong Pinoy at Libreng Libing. Yan ay habang busy kayo sa pang-aapi sa kapwa senador,” Marcos added. “Tigilan nyo ang pagmamagaling at pang-aaway.”
Marcos also questioned the status of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC), chaired by Lacson, saying that senators were confused by rumors that no more hearings would be held.
“Nalilito kami sa Senado at ang balita, ‘di na raw magpapa-hearing ang blue ribbon kundi maglalabas na si Senator Lacson ng partial report. Baka may pinag-usapan sa majority caucus? Iba naman ang binalita, ‘yong ipapatawag si Zaldy at Bonjing,” she remarked.
In response, Lacson shot back: “Mag-attend sana siya ng BRC (blue ribbon committee) hearing para hindi siya malito, at makinig siya sa session hall para hindi siya naguguluhan. Also, magbasa siya ng mga announcements sa all-senators chat group para updated siya.”
The BRC has yet to announce its next hearing date, saying it is still awaiting new developments. Lacson earlier confirmed that they intend to invite former Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co and former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez to testify.