Lacson Named New Chairman of Senate Blue Ribbon Committee
MANILA – Senator Panfilo Lacson will assume the chairmanship of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, replacing Senator Rodante Marcoleta, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III announced Monday night. The change comes following a shift in Senate leadership earlier that day, with Sotto elected as the new Senate president, succeeding Senator Francis Escudero.Sotto explained the decision was based on committee membership rules. “He is not a member of the majority. The Blue Ribbon is reserved for the majority,” sotto told reporters, referring to Marcoleta. He confirmed that the replacement had been agreed upon by senators.
Marcoleta recently led a blue Ribbon Committee hearing investigating alleged corruption in flood control projects, where contractors Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya implicated lawmakers and government officials.
The leadership changes also saw Senator Sherwin Gatchalian retain his position as chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance. Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri was appointed as the new Senate Majority Leader, replacing Senator Joel Villanueva, while Lacson was previously elected Senate President Pro Tempore, taking over from Senator Jinggoy Estrada. Lacson currently chairs the Committee on Electoral Reforms and Peopel’s Participation.Sotto indicated that members of the previous management’s bloc were not initially involved in leadership discussions but are welcome to join the Senate majority. he stated he had not yet persistent a replacement for the Senate minority leader.
-Mariel Celine Serquiña/NB, GMA Integrated News