Lacson says ex-minority bloc initiated Escudero ouster

Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson said Tuesday that the former five-man Senate minority bloc was behind the move to replace Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero as head of the upper chamber. 

Lacson said that the former minority bloc composed of himself and Senators Tito Sotto, Risa Hontiveros, Loren Legarda, and Migz Zubiri had a meeting Friday to discuss the ouster of Escudero. Then over the weekend, he said they started gathering support among fellow senators for Sotto’s bid for the Senate presidency. 

“Ano ‘yan eh, usapan naming lima sa minorya. Nagtanong tanong kami sa mga kasamahan namin kung sino ‘yung gusto na magpalit ng liderato at base do’n sa unang nakalap na information, mukang uubra na magkaroon ng suffiicient na numero kasi 13 para mag-oust eh, 12 para ma-retain,” Lacson said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview. 

(The five of us in the minority bloc talked then we asked our colleagues who among them wanted to change the leadership. And based on the initial information we gathered, it seemed that we had sufficient numbers because we needed 13 to oust, 12 to retain.) 

“So nung may bilang, ‘yun na. May tawagan na nangyari at ayoko nang pagusapan ang mga dahilan kasi ayaw na rin nating magkaroon pa ng sakitan o samaan ng loob. ‘Yan naman ay normal naman ‘yan sa Senate at saka sa House, ang palitan,” he added. 

(So when we already secured the number, we started calling others. I don't want to talk about the reasons because we don't want to raise bad feelings. The change in leadership is normal in the Senate and the House.) 

On Monday, Sotto took over from Escudero as Senate President after the position was declared vacant during the plenary session. 

Lacson, meanwhile, was elected as the new Senate President Pro Tempore, replacing Senator Jinggoy Estrada. Zubiri was also named as the new Senate Majority Leader, replacing Senator Joel Villanueva. 

Asked if it was easy for them to get sufficient numbers to replace Escudero, Lacson said, “Medyo (quite).”

The newly installed Senate President Pro Tempore further pointed out that Escudero “very graciously” accepted the decision of the senators and they had a smooth transition. 

“Nang supisyente ang numero, ‘yun na, pinuntahan namin si SP Chiz. Nakakabagbag naman ng loob na he was very, very gracious. Sabi ko nga, statesman par excellence ang naging demeanor, ‘yung naging reception sa amin ni SP Chiz,” Lacson said. 

(When the number was sufficient, we went to SP Chiz. He was very, very gracious about it. His demeanor was statesman par excellence.) 

“Sinuggest ko pa na baka naman pwedeng para lang sa solidarity ng ating Senado, baka pwede siya na mag-oath kay bagong SP. Sabi niya oo, walang problema. Kasi noong una, ang pakiusap sa’kin ni SP Sotto ikaw na mag-administer. Sabi ko hindi, tanungin muna natin si Chiz baka naman payag siya, siya mag-administer, mas magakanda kako tignan ‘yun. At ganoon nangyari. Napakaganda ng transition,” he continued. 

(I even suggested that for the solidarity of our Senate, Escudero should administer Sotto’s oath. He agreed and said there’s no problem. At first, Sotto wanted me to be the one to administer, but I said let’s ask Chiz first. He agreed and the transition became smooth.)  — RSJ, GMA Integrated News