Lacson says Blue Ribbon exit won’t slow anti-graft fight

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson (Senate of the Philippines/facebook)

MANILA – Senator Panfilo Lacson said Thursday stepping down as chairperson of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee would not weaken his campaign against corruption, even as he expressed “double relief” over the leadership change in the panel.

In a post on his X account, Lacson said he felt relieved both by the transition and by being freed from the responsibilities of leading the powerful oversight committee.

“Double relief. I feel relieved that I am now relieved of my duties as the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman,” Lacson said.

The leadership shift came after Senator Pia Cayetano was named the new chairperson of the Blue Ribbon panel following the recent reorganization in the Senate leadership.

Lacson earlier noted that Senate committee chairships are decided by fellow senators and that panel heads serve at the pleasure of their colleagues.

During his stint as Blue Ribbon chair, Lacson led the committee’s probe into alleged anomalies in flood control projects, an inquiry that he earlier said contributed to case buildup efforts against personalities linked to the controversy.

Despite relinquishing the post, he said he would continue exposing the misuse of public funds and systemic corruption in government.

“I will continue to fight a corrupt and rotten system in the misuse and abuse of public funds as I have consistently done in the course of my long years in public service,” he said.

Lacson had repeatedly defended the Blue Ribbon investigation amid criticism, saying the inquiry was intended to aid prosecution and allow evidence to guide accountability efforts tied to questionable flood control spending