Lacson: Trillanes has no right to call for blue ribbon chair Gordon’s ouster

Senator Panfilo Lacson may have his differences with Senator Richard Gordon with the way he handles hearings, but that doesn't mean he would support the call of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV to have him replaced as chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee.

At a press conference weeks before the chamber resumes session, Lacson said he was ready to participate in public inquiries presided by Gordon, who he has vocally criticized for monopolizing hearings.

Saying they have talked since their latest row during an inquiry on the P6.4 billion shabu shipment, Lacson shared his friendship with the blue ribbon chair remains intact.

“Di naman masisira ang friendship. Even during investigation ng BRC sa P6.4-B shabu nagkaroon kami ng maski paano confrontation sa lounge. I already confronted him for not allowing the other members to participate," Lacson said.

When asked to weigh in on the ouster call Gordon received from Trillanes for turning the blue ribbon panel into what he called a “committee de abswelto,” Lacson clarified that only the Senate majority has the right to make such a plea.

Lacson stressed he will not call for Gordon to be replaced as the blue ribbon chair, even as he is expected to take up major cases with him later in the year including the billion-peso shabu shipment and the Dengvaxia mess.

“Unang una, walang karapatan si Senator Trillanes para humingi ng pagpalit ng Senate chairmanship kasi minority siya. Decision ng majority lagi ang pag-palit ng chairmanship ng committee. I will not call for his replacement. I will not,” Lacson said.

Last September, Trillanes said he would work on Aquilino Pimentel III's ouster from the Senate presidency help if Gordon would remain chairman, saying his leadership had affected the independence of the Senate.

In late April, Pimentel said Gordon should stay as chairman of the blue ribbon committee despite sentiments against the way he handles the panel's hearings.

Dengvaxia

Gordon had expressed his willingness to debate and discuss the panel's draft report on the Dengvaxia controversy on the floor after it reportedly acquired the signatures of 14 senators.

Lacson, who said he will not sign the report following Gordon's "unreasonable statements," said he has already prepared materials and was ready to interpellate with his fellow lawmaker. — RSJ, GMA News