Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said he is open to returning as chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee if reelected by his colleagues, noting that the panel’s upcoming probe into alleged flood control project anomalies may expand to implicate “bigger names.”
In a radio interview on Tuesday, Lacson explained that committee chairmanships are elected in plenary, not decided through private talks.
“Lahat kasi ng chairpersons inihalalal ito sa plenaryo. Hindi puwedeng usapan lang ng Senate President at saka nung partikular na senador. Ito’y nagkakaroon ng mosyon pagkatapos pagbobotohan (All chairpersons are elected in plenary. It cannot be discussed only by the Senate President and then by a particular senator. It becomes a motion after being voted upon),” he told DZBB.
To recall, Lacson has stepped down as head of the Senate Blue Committee, citing ‘dissatisfaction among his colleagues over the panel’s handling of the investigation into alleged irregularities in government flood control projects.’
When asked about the next Blue Ribbon hearing, Lacson said it is tentatively set for November 14, pending his possible reelection as committee chair when the Senate resumes session.
He also noted that deliberations on the national budget remain the Senate’s priority for now, citing issues that also need to be addressed.
However, Lacson added that when the Blue Ribbon Committee resumes its infrastructure probe, new witnesses and more names, including government officials and civilians, are expected to surface.
