Lacson: Senate leadership change won’t slow budget hearings

By Leonel Abasola, Philippine News Agency

In a radio interview, Lacson said Senator Sherwin Gatchalian will stay as chairman of the Finance Committee handling the hearings on the proposed 2026 national budget. (File Photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – Senate President Pro-Tempore Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday assured the public that the change of leadership in the Senate will not affect or slow down the hearings of the Senate committee on finance.

In a radio interview, Lacson said Senator Sherwin Gatchalian will stay as chairman of the Finance Committee handling the hearings on the proposed 2026 national budget.

“Hindi. Mananatili siyang chairman. After all, part siya ng bagong majority so hindi maalis sa kanya ang finance committee (No. He will remain as chairman. After all, he is part of the new majority, so he will remain as chair of the finance committee),” he said.

However, he said there is a chance that there will be changes in some committees chaired by members of the now-minority following Monday’s leadership change.

On Monday, the Senate underwent a leadership change that saw erstwhile minority leader Vicente Sotto III reclaim the Senate presidency.

Lacson was elected Senate President Pro Tempore, and agreed to be the incoming chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee.

He lauded the smooth transfer of power, with former Senate President Francis Escudero agreeing to administer the oath to his successor Vicente Sotto III.

“In all my three terms as senator, I don’t remember having witnessed an outgoing SP administer the oath to his successor who removed him. A statesman par excellence, Chiz was genuinely gracious when we went to his office to inform him that Tito had the votes,” Lacson said on X.

Meanwhile, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said the reorganization will serve as an opportunity for both majority and minority to redefine their roles.

He said senators must recognize that corruption, not political rivals, is the true adversary.

With corruption hounding the country, Cayetano warned that if left unchecked, it would keep returning in worse forms.

“What’s important now is makapag-focus tayo (to have focus), how we can have real change in our country,“ he said.