Sen. Ping Lacson Junks Report about Another Senate Shakeup
PING LACSON – The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman junked the report about the alleged possible another change of leadership in the chamber.
Amid the heated issue over the flood control projects funded by the government, the Senate had a shakeup. Former Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero was replaced by Sen. Tito Sotto who previously led the Senate minority bloc. Previously, Escudero’s name was dragged in the issue after he admitted that a contractor has donated P30-million for his campaign in 2022.
According to the contractor donor of former Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero, the P30-million donation came from his own money. Escudero previously claimed that his publicized linked to the said contractor who’s behind one of the companies flagged by Pres. Bongbong Marcos was allegedly part of the supposed “demolition job” to oust him from office.
Former Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada and majority floor leader Joel Villanueva were accused of allegedly receiving kickback from the flood control projects. Both Estrada and Villanueva denied the accusation made by former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer Brice Hernandez during a flood probe at the House of Representatives.
Amid the current issues, the Senate had a change of leadership. From former Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero, the upper chamber is now led by Senate Pres. Tito Sotto. The Senate President Pro Tempore is Sen. Ping Lacson while the Senate Majority Leader is Sen. Migz Zubiri.
The Senate Majority bloc is composed of 15 senators while the Senate Minority bloc is composed of 9 senators. Here are the senators who have key positions in the chamber now:
- Senate President — Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III
- Senate President Pro Tempore — Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson
- Senate Majority Leader — Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri
- Senate Minority Leader — Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano
Here are the 15 members of the Senate Majority Bloc:
- Sen. Tito Sotto (Senate President)
- Sen. Ping Lacson (Senate President Pro Tempore)
- Sen. Miguel Zubiri (Senate Majority Leader)
- Sen. Risa Hontiveros (Deputy Majority Leader)
- Sen. JV Ejercito (Deputy Majority Leader)
- Sen. Loren Legarda
- Sen. Bam Aquino
- Sen. Pia Cayetano
- Sen. Win Gatchalian
- Sen. Lito Lapid
- Sen. Kiko Pangilinan
- Sen. Erwin Tulfo
- Sen. Raffy Tulfo
- Sen. Camille Villar
- Sen. Mark Villar
In the Senate Minority Bloc, now-Senate Pres. Tito Sotto is replaced with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano. The Deputy Minority Leaders are senators Rodante Marcoleta and Joel Villanueva. Here are the 9 members of the minority bloc:
- Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano (Senate Minority Leader)
- Sen. Rodante Marcoleta (Deputy Minority Leader)
- Senator Joel Villanueva (Deputy Minority Leader)
- Sen. Chiz Escudero
- Sen. Imee Marcos
- Sen. Jinggoy Estrada
- Sen. Robin Padilla
- Sen. Bato Dela Rosa
- Sen. Bong Go
Recently, there were reports about the alleged possible shakeup in the Senate again. The rumors stated that Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano is supposedly securing enough numbers to become the chief of the chamber. Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson who also leads the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee now junked the said report.
Based on a report on Philstar, Sen. Ping Lacson called the said report about another change in leadership in the Senate as “fake”. According to him, it is allegedly intended to confuse the Filipino people.
“Peke. Intended to deceive and confuse. Underestimating the intelligence of the new Senate majority bloc, nagba-baka sakaling may tumalon at magpirma. Malevolent, underhanded, foul and desperate. Kung may song na ‘Achy Breaky Hearts,’ eto naman – ‘Faky Breaky News,'” Lacson said.
According to Sen. Ping Lacson, the proper and professional way is to call or approach the Senate President and show him the resolution signed by at least 13 senators. Based on the report, he further said that it is after then that the Senate Chief will resign at the opening of the session.
Previously, amid the issue, Senate Pres. Tito Sotto called for mandatory drug testing among all Senate officials and employees.