Senate President Sotto Announces Lacson’s Reinstatement as Blue Ribbon Committee Chair

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has confirmed the reinstatement of Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson as chairman of the powerful Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, effective when sessions resume on November 10.

Sotto said the majority bloc unanimously backed Lacson’s return, describing him as “a man of integrity and discipline” who can steer the committee’s investigations with fairness and independence. He added that the panel will soon resume its probe into alleged irregularities in flood control projects implemented under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“The committee’s work is far from over,” Sotto said. “The public deserves full transparency, especially in projects involving billions of pesos meant to protect our communities from flooding.”

The Blue Ribbon Committee is expected to scrutinize issues flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA) involving potential overpricing, ghost projects, and questionable procurement procedures in certain flood control programs across the country.

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, meanwhile, expressed respect for the majority’s decision and vowed that the minority bloc will cooperate with Lacson to ensure that the investigation remains objective.

“As I’ve said, it’s the majority’s choice, and the minority respects that. We will continue to work with Senator Lacson in the spirit of cooperation and transparency — because the stakes for our nation are too high for us not to work together,” Cayetano said in a statement on Wednesday.

He emphasized that the Blue Ribbon Committee’s credibility depends on its integrity and impartiality. “The Blue Ribbon’s power lies in its integrity — in making sure that both our goals of uncovering the truth and the means to achieve them are beyond politics and personal agenda,” he said.

Cayetano added that identifying the masterminds behind corruption and implementing genuine reforms should take precedence over political grandstanding. “We owe it to the Filipino people to restore their trust in our institutions — and that means setting politics aside, laying down the facts, and following the evidence wherever it leads,” he said.

Lacson, who has long championed anti-corruption initiatives and government accountability, is expected to lead the committee in reviving the stalled investigation into the controversial flood control projects — an issue that has drawn public attention due to its scale and impact on disaster prevention efforts.

“The Senate is at its best when it rises above partisanship and stands together for truth and accountability,” Cayetano concluded. “That’s the standard the Minority aims for — and that’s the standard we should all aim for.”