Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III named on Tuesday, Oct. 7, five senators being considered to lead the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee following the resignation of Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson – whose recommended successor is seen to have a strong advantage.
In a televised interview, Sotto said Senators Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, Raffy Tulfo, Pia Cayetano, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, and Risa Hontiveros are among those being considered for the powerful investigative panel.
“Ang pinag-uusapan namin dito ‘yung mga puwedeng pumalit sa kanya. Para sa akin ano, sino man ang rekomendasyon ni Sen. Lacson would have a very strong edge over anybody else,” Sotto said.
He added that a caucus is scheduled on Wednesday, Oct. 8, to discuss the matter.
Sotto also revealed that he had tried to persuade Lacson to stay on, but after the latter formally stepped down on Monday, he can no longer talk him into reconsidering his decision.
“Yung imbestigasyon kasi, dahil may mga na-implicate na mga legislator may senador, may congressman eh parang ang direksyon na binibintang ng iba ay bakit papunta sa senador ang target niya,” he explained.
“Ang ginagawa lang naman ni Sen. Lacson eh sabi nga niya he follows the lead of the evidence. Yun ang sinusundan niya, ‘yung wala siyang target na senador or congressman. Nothing to that effect,” Sotto added.
On the other hand, Sotto said that Lacson would fare better as a critic than as chairperson of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
In formally tendering his resignation, Lacson cited the disapproval of some of his colleagues in the panel’s ongoing investigation into the anomalous flood control projects as the reason for his resignation. (Dhel Nazario)
