Lacson confirms efforts to change Senate leadership

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Sunday confirmed that efforts are underway to change the Senate leadership, as the chamber recently convened as an impeachment court for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

“Confirmed. Talagang mayroong pagkilos [na palitan ang liderato ng Senado] (I confirm that there are efforts to change the Senate leadership),” Lacson told Super Radyo dzBB.

Lacson said the move seeks to replace Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano with Senator Sherwin Gatchalian to give the Senate a “fresh start.”

“Sana kung magpalit ng liderato, maibangon namin. Magkaroon kami ng fresh start. Kaya ang napili namin si Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian,” Lacson said.

(Hopefully, if leadership changes, we can rebuild and have a fresh start. That is why we chose Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.)

“At least fresh face, wala siyang kaaway sa magkabilang panig. Solido kaming 11 rito na itulak na siya ang maging Senate president. ‘Yun ang pinaka-praktikal,” he added.

(At least he is a fresh face with no enemies on either side. We are a solid bloc of 11 pushing for him to become Senate president. That is the most practical option.)

Lacson, who belongs to the Senate minority bloc seeking to regain leadership control after losing it on May 11, said the change came after Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa reappeared and voted in favor of a leadership shift.

He said the current minority bloc—composed of Senators Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Migz Zubiri, Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Lito Lapid, Raffy Tulfo, and Erwin Tulfo, and JV Ejercito—is backing Gatchalian for Senate President.

“Hindi kami papayag na hindi si Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian ang mahirang na Senate president. Kasi sa tingin namin, siya ‘yung fresh face na pwedeng magsalba sa Senado,” he added.

(We will not agree to anyone other than Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian being elected Senate president, because we believe he is a fresh face who can help restore the Senate.)

However, Lacson did not disclose whether they are in talks with other senators to join their push for a leadership change.

“Kung meron man, I’m not at liberty to disclose kasi critical ‘yan, sensitibo ‘yan. Hindi ko ico-confirm, hindi ko ide-deny,” he said. “‘Continuing crime’ ang paghahangad na mapalitan ang liderato.”

(If there are any, I’m not at liberty to disclose because it is critical and sensitive. I will neither confirm nor deny it. The “continuing crime” is the attempt to change the leadership.)

Lacson said Senate leadership is crucial in the impeachment proceedings, as the Senate president will preside over the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

He added that Gatchalian is prepared to preside over the proceedings.

“Ang presiding officer ng 24 senator-judges ay presiding officer lang. Wala naman sa kanya talaga ‘yung sariling desisyon kung paano ang takbo ng impeachment,” Lacson said.

(The presiding officer of the 24 senator-judges is just that—a presiding officer. He does not solely decide how the impeachment will proceed.)

“Kayang-kaya ni Sen. Sherwin ‘yan. Ang observation naman namin sa kanya, pati ‘yung committee chairmanships na pinagdaanan niya, preparado naman siya,” he added.

(Sen. Sherwin can handle it. Based on our observation, including the committee chairmanships he has held, he is well prepared.)

Reports of renewed calls for a change in Senate leadership emerged following the May 13 shooting incident and the reported escape of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa after he was placed under protective custody.

Lacson also clarified that the 11 senators supporting the move are not pushing it to advance a constituent assembly or influence the impeachment outcome.

Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III confirmed that no talks on a constituent assembly had taken place, adding that he was the one who floated the idea of making Gatchalian Senate President, subject to the latter’s acceptance.

Lacson also noted that any change in Senate leadership would trigger changes in committee chairmanships, which could delay legislative work.

“Pagdating sa Senate leadership at sa aming legislative work, talagang maaantala. Kasi every time magpalit ng liderato sa Senado, necessarily, magpalit ang chairpersons ng mga komite, so mag-i-start na naman from zero at baka maiba ang mga prayoridad,” he said.

(Changes in Senate leadership will delay legislative work. Committee chairpersons will also change, forcing a reset and possibly shifting priorities.)

Internal matter

In a separate Super Radyo dzBB interview, Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, House trial spokesperson, said any change in Senate leadership will not affect the evidence to be presented by the House prosecution panel.

“Kung magkakaroon man ng changes sa liderato sa Senado, walang changes sa ebidensiyang maipiprisenta ng House prosecution panel,” Adiong said.

(If there are changes in Senate leadership, there will be no change in the evidence to be presented by the House prosecution panel.)

He said the impeachment proceedings remain an internal matter of the Senate.

“The House Prosecution Team is ready to present its evidence. Ito ay internal na dynamics ng Senado. Mayroon tayong tinatawag na institutional respect and courtesy sa ating coequal branch,” he added.

Adiong also urged the Senate to cooperate with authorities investigating a recent shooting incident in the Senate vicinity.

“Kung sinuman ang mga pangalang ma-i-involve sa investigation ng security agencies, o kung may mga kasong ipa-file, dapat maging cooperative ang Senado,” he said.

(Whoever may be named in the investigation, or if cases are filed, the Senate should cooperate.)

Flood control probe

Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos called on Cayetano to pursue the truth behind flood control projects by inviting 18 former Marines, former lawmaker Zaldy Co, former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, and former Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin.

The House of Representatives earlier impeached Vice President Duterte on allegations of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, bribery, and other high crimes. The plenary voted 257-25-9.

Duterte has until June 1 to respond to the writ of summons after the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, convened on May 19. The trial is expected to begin on July 6.—MCG, GMA News