Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has announced he is stepping aside as chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, saying he sensed “disappointment” from his colleagues as the committee’s investigation into alleged irregularities in flood control projects reached politically sensitive ground.
In a statement released Sunday, October 5, Lacson said he would formalize his resignation when the Senate resumes session. He explained that committee chairs “serve at the pleasure of their peers, particularly those in the majority,” and that he chose to give way to someone who “enjoys their full confidence.”
“I was told quite a number of my colleagues were disappointed in how I handled the hearings,” he said. “Instead of insisting on staying as chair, I am stepping aside. I will continue my fight against corruption, with or without the Blue Ribbon Committee.”
Lacson clarified that his decision was not a reaction to online criticism or political pressure. “No amount of attacks or misinformation from partisan sectors will distract me,” he said. “But when it’s my own peers who express their disappointment, perhaps it is best to give way.”
He added that he would continue his advocacy against what he described as “a corrupt and rotten system in the misuse and abuse of public funds.”
The flood control investigation began under Senator Rodante Marcoleta‘s chairmanship and was continued by Lacson after the Senate leadership change in September. Before assuming the post, he had delivered a privilege speech questioning the multibillion-peso allocations for flood control projects and the possible misuse of funds.
Under his leadership, the committee examined reports of ghost projects, overpricing, and politically linked contractors. While some senators supported the continued inquiry, others began questioning its tone and direction.
Lacson and Marcoleta also clashed several times during hearings. One exchange turned tense when Marcoleta pushed to invite former Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co to testify, while Lacson objected, invoking interparliamentary courtesy and warning that summoning a House member could strain relations between the two chambers. The exchanges highlighted the institutional sensitivities surrounding the probe and the limits of how far the Senate could go in summoning officials from the other branch.
Lacson was appointed Blue Ribbon chair in September after the ouster of Senator Chiz Escudero as Senate President and the rise of Senator Tito Sotto, which prompted a reorganization of key committees. The next hearing, originally scheduled for October 8 to summon former Department of Public Works and Highways officials, was later suspended pending the submission of documents and judicial evidence.
The suspension, followed soon after by Lacson’s announcement, left uncertainty over when and how the investigation would resume. His decision came at a time when the Senate was divided over how far the committee should go in pursuing the probe. “The advocacy continues,” Lacson said. “The fight against corruption does not end with a title.”
