Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson announced his decision to resign as chairperson of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, citing disappointment among some colleagues over his handling of the probe into alleged anomalies in flood control projects.

Despite stepping down, Lacson vowed to continue his fight against what he described as a corrupt and rotten system involving the misuse of public funds. He said he remains unfazed by criticism from “misinformed netizens and partisan sectors,” but decided to relinquish his post out of respect for his peers.

“Since all chairpersons of Senate committees are elected by our peers, I serve at the pleasure of my colleagues,” Lacson said. “When several of them expressed disappointment with how I managed the flood control project investigations, I thought it best to step aside in favor of someone they believe can do better.”

He confirmed that he is preparing his formal resignation letter, which he will submit and manifest before the Senate plenary.

Lacson also denounced circulating “fake news and false narratives,” refuting claims that he was protecting some lawmakers while singling out others. He reiterated that he had planned to invite resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co and former Speaker Martin Romualdez to the next Blue Ribbon hearing to prove that the committee was not shielding anyone.

“If you ask me, I believe I handled the hearings properly,” Lacson said. “But there were efforts to disrupt proceedings—one even tried to cause a distraction as the hearing began. That’s why there’s this perception that the hearings weren’t handled well.”
(PNA)