Kiko Pangilinan, Ping Lacson named as Blue Ribbon panel vice-chairpersons

Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Wednesday were elected as the new vice chairpersons of the powerful Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations, popularly known as the Blue Ribbon Committee.

This was formalized during the special session currently being conducted where the new Senate leadership elected heads and members of several permanent committees.

Senator Erwin Tulfo will remain as the chairperson of the Blue Ribbon Committee—a panel that has been investigating anomalies in government infrastructure projects.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri nominated the new vice chairpersons and members of the committee, which were approved by newly elected Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian.

All members of the new 13-member majority bloc, except Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, were designated either as regular members or ex officio members of the committee.

According to Tulfo, Escudero personally requested that he be omitted as a member of the panel.

“Tingin lang namin, eh kasi may delicadeza po ‘yung senador kaya ayaw niya po sumama diyan sa Blue Ribbon. Nauna na pong nasama ‘yung kanyang pangalan diyan kaya ayaw na po niya sumama dito sa Blue Ribbon,” Tulfo said in an ambush interview.

(We think the senator has delicadeza, that's why he doesn't want to join the Blue Ribbon. His name was included previously, but now he doesn't want to join the Blue Ribbon.)

Escudero is currently facing a plunder complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly receiving kickbacks of P306 million and P280 million from various flood control projects.

Two reasons

Meanwhile, Lacson, former chairperson of the committee, put on record that he intentionally and voluntarily relinquished the chairmanship for two primary reasons.

“Number one, I am tired of losing old friends and creating new enemies. And number two, there are other colleagues who are equally, if not more qualified than this humble representation to take on the job,” Lacson said.

“If there were no takers, I was willing, albeit, with a heavy heart to retain and continue sitting as chairman and resume a duty that I am morally and obligated to perform,” he added.

The Blue Ribbon Committee is in charge of matters relating to, including investigation of, malfeasance, misfeasance and nonfeasance in office by officers and employees of the government, its branches, agencies, subdivisions and instrumentalities; implementation of the provision of the Constitution on nepotism; and investigation of any matter of public interest on its own initiative or brought to its attention by any member of the Senate. — RSJ, GMA News