MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Panfilo Lacson is open to reassume chairmanship of the Blue Ribbon committee.
Some majority senators, however, might jump to the Cayetano-led minority bloc if he returns, Lacson said.
“I have discussed this scenario with Senate President Vicente Sotto III when he broached the idea of giving back the chairmanship to me – that if I am elected again to head the panel, we should be ready for consequences and decisions, including losing some members of the majority bloc and consequently, his Senate presidency,” he said.
Lacson had resigned after some senators blocked his line of inquiry during the flood control probe.
Reflecting on the circumstances surrounding his departure, Lacson said, “In retrospect, a simple, practical question crossed my mind when I decided to resign on Oct. 6: What chairmanship are we talking about if we lose the majority to the current Cayetano-led minority bloc?” the Senate president pro tempore said.
If Lacson accepts the chairmanship again, he said the question of majority alignment “will no longer be a factor.”
State officials, contractors and engineers have been implicated in anomalous infrastructure deals nationwide.
Thirty-four business groups have urged the government to empower the Independent Commission for Infrastructure as it probes the flood control controversy.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla told “Storycon” on One News earlier that one year is more than enough to secure convictions.
‘Leave minority out of it’
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said Lacson should leave the minority out of his decision to step down, saying they did not create “drama, intrigue or blame” when they were booted out of their chairmanships when Sotto replaced Sen. Francis Escudero.
“If the majority is having a disagreement, it’s fine – politics will always have its share of drama. But let’s not turn the Senate into a teleserye,” Cayetano said.
Former Senate president Franklin Drilon earlier described Lacson’s resignation as a “king’s gambit” meant to preserve Sotto’s leadership amid signs of instability within the majority bloc.