Senate President Vincent “Tito” C. Sotto on Tuesday confirmed that Senator Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is set to return as head of the Blue Ribbon Committee.
Asked if Mr. Lacson would return to chair the committee, Mr. Sotto said: “Yes.”
“During our many conversations, it has come to his (Sen. Ping's) attention regarding the request by some of our colleagues and the public that he withdraw the committee,” she told reporters via Viber.
Mr Lacson had earlier resigned as committee chairman, following criticism from fellow senators over his handling of the chamber's investigation into disproportionate flood projects.
Mr. Lacson said in his resignation letter, “Some senators are publicly and covertly pushing the narrative that I am targeting several of my colleagues, while allegedly protecting members of the lower house who are considered key actors in the budget anomalies related to substandard and ghost flood control projects.”
The senator had previously said his return as committee chair could mark another change in Senate leadership.
The Senate is investigating irregularities in multibillion-peso flood control projects following reports that lawmakers and officials received bribes from infrastructure funds allocated from 2022. , Adrian H. Halili
