Former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III’s ouster from the Senate leadership was partly driven by colleagues who felt he did not know how to “take care” of them through political favors and material support, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson revealed on Friday.
Speaking on the heels of the May 11 leadership change that installed Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate President, Lacson shed light on the internal friction gripping the chamber amid the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Ang nakarating sa amin ang issue kay Sen. Sotto, hindi daw marunong mag-alaga ng kasamahan namin,” Lacson said in a radio interview.
What reached us is that the issue against Sen. Sotto is that he supposedly does not know how to take care of our colleagues.
Lacson defended Sotto, noting that the former Senate chief was unfairly compared to another former Senate President, Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who was perceived as more accommodating to lawmakers’ requests.
“Ang aking reaction doon, hindi marunong mag-alaga? Si Sen. Sotto, wala siyang ₱142 billion na pwedeng ipamigay sa kapwa senador,” Lacson added.
My reaction to that is, he doesn’t know how to take care [of them]? Sen. Sotto does not have ₱142 billion that he can just give away to fellow senators.
The lawmaker admitted that he also drew ire from his peers due to his stance as chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee, which recently recommended an investigation into senators allegedly tied to a flood control scandal.
“Kung isasama ng loob ng aking kasamahan ang aking pagganap ng tungkulin bilang chairman na di ko babalewalain ang mga pahayag o di ko isasama dahil kasamahan ko, saan ako lulugar?” Lacson questioned.
If my colleagues are going to harbor bad feelings over the performance of my duty as chairman—where I won’t ignore statements or exclude them just because they are my colleagues—where do I stand?
Lacson argued that any form of “nurturing” in the legislature should benefit the public, not political allies using government funds.
“Pero ang alaga na bubusugin kita, inalagaan kita na di natin pera yan, pera ng bayan yan ipambubusog ko sa iyo, kung yan ang definition ng alaga eh mag pack up na tayong lahat,” he said.
But the kind of care where I will feed you full, where I take care of you using money that isn’t ours but the public’s money just to feed you, if that is the definition of care, then we might as well all pack up.
Marcos’ Term Extension Claims Slammed
During the same interview, Lacson forcefully rejected allegations made by Senator Imee Marcos, who claimed the leadership coup was orchestrated to pave the way for constitutional amendments and term extensions for top officials.
“Flat lies, outright lies. Kasinungalingan,” Lacson retorted.
Flat lies, outright lies. A lie.
Marcos had previously asserted that the political maneuvering began with an alleged plot to arrest Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. She claimed the ultimate objective was to transition into a constituent assembly (con-ass) that would suspend national elections and extend the term of her brother, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., until 2031.
“Change of constitution, add three more years to the current congressmen, and extend the term even of the President until 2031 and no elections except perhaps for local positions,” Marcos had stated in an earlier televised interview.
Marcos also alleged that during secret meetings at a private hotel, lawmakers were offered an incentive package that included raising the minimum age requirement for the presidency to 50 years old—a move designed to disqualify 47-year-old Vice President Sara Duterte from running in the next elections.
However, Lacson clarified that the 11-member Senate minority bloc has never held any discussions regarding a constituent assembly.
“Walang pag-uusap kami maski mga caucuses namin. Napakalimit naming mag-caucus sa minority, never ‘yan napagusapan, never ‘yan nabanggit ang con-ass,” he explained.
We have no such talks, even in our caucuses. We rarely hold caucuses in the minority, and that was never discussed, con-ass was never mentioned.
The former police chief concluded by saying he remains in the dark about the basis of the presidential sister’s explosive statements.
“Hindi ko alam anong pinanggagalingan ng kanilang pananalita. Kung meron silang matibay na basehan, bahala sila,” Lacson said.
I do not know where their statements are coming from. If they have a solid basis, that is up to them.