Ping Lacson replaces Marcoleta as Blue Ribbon Committee chairman

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson will replace Sen. Rodante Marcoleta as the chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III said on Monday night.

This developed hours after the Senate elected Sotto as the new Senate President to replace Sen. Francis Escudero.

Marcoleta also earlier presided over a hearing in which contractors Pacifico "Curlee" Discaya and Cezarah "Sarah" Discaya linked lawmakers and government officials to corrupt practices involving flood control projects.

JUST IN: Senate President Pro Tempore @iampinglacson, papalitan si Sen. Rodante Marcoleta bilang chairman ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee — Senate Pres. @sotto_tito | via @nimfaravelo pic.twitter.com/6NQmPgOI6C

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) September 8, 2025

According to Nimfa Ravelo's report on Super Radyo dzBB, Sotto said Marcoleta may not remain as chairman of the panel investigating wrongdoing in government because the latter was not a member of the majority.

“He is not a member of the majority. The Blue Ribbon is reserved for the majority,” Sotto told reporters.

When asked if Marcoleta’s replacement had been agreed upon by senators, Sotto said yes. 

Sotto said Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian is keeping his seat as chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, the Senate counterpart of the House Committee on Appropriations, which scrutinizes the proposed national budget.

In an earlier interview with reporters, Sotto said members of the Duterte Bloc were not part of the talks of leadership change because the initiative might not push through if many senators were involved. 

However, they are welcome to join the Senate majority, Sotto added.

The newly named Senate president also said he had no idea yet who would be his successor as the Senate minority leader. 

Lacson was earlier elected as the new Senate President Pro Tempore, replacing Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.

He currently chairs the Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation.

Meanwhile, Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri was named as the new Senate Majority Leader, replacing Sen. Joel Villanueva.

Lacson, Zubiri, and Sotto were all members of the minority bloc. –Mariel Celine Serquiña/NB, GMA Integrated News