Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III revealed that there is still a possibility for Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson to return as chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
In a radio interview on Saturday, October 18, Sotto clarified that the option remains open.
“Ang sinasabi ko lang is may posibilidad,” he said. “In other words, ‘di ko pwedeng sabihing imposible na.”
Sotto said he is currently reviewing the request for house arrest filed by dismissed Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan 1st District engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez, and Jaypee Mendoza. He added that he continues to consult with members of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which is presently led by acting chairman Senator Erwin Tulfo.
“Hopefully, makatawag kami ng meeting very soon before the end of October, and then hopefully, baka medyo makumbinsi natin si Senator Lacson na bumalik. All’s well that ends well,” Sotto said.
He further noted that most members of the majority bloc favor Lacson’s return to the key oversight post.
“Karamihan ng kasama ko sa majority gusto eh. Gusto siya bumalik eh,” he added.
Lacson resigned as committee chairman after several senators reportedly disagreed with his handling of the probe into alleged irregularities in flood control projects. Sotto previously remarked that Lacson could be more effective as a critic, while Lacson declined calls from colleagues urging him to reconsider his resignation.