Alan Peter Cayetano: Ping Lacson 'whitewashing' Senate Blue Ribbon Committee direction

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday criticized Senator Panfilo Lacson anew, alleging that the latter is “excellent” in whitewashing by determining the direction of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

In a Facebook Live, Cayetano said he has monitored the events of the Senate blue ribbon panel since 2007 and said almost every chairman of the panel has followed the evidence.

“Pero during the time of Sen. Lacson, kaisa-isa siyang chairman na obvious na obvious dini-determine ang direction ng committee. Siya na nagtuturo kung sinong guilty o hindi. Pati papunta sa DOJ, papunta sa Ombudsman. Parang nagpapasahan. So very very clear yan,” Cayetano added.

(But during the time of Sen. Lacson, he was the only chairman who obviously determined the direction of the committee. He was the one who determined who was guilty or not. Even going to the DOJ, going to the Ombudsman. It]s like he was passing the buck. So it’s very, very clear.)

“Kung gusto niyo ng pampaputi, punta kayo kay Sen. Lacson kasi magaling mag-whitewash. Baka may pampaputi.”

(If you want a whitening product, go to Sen. Lacson because he is good at whitewashing. Maybe he has a whitening item.)

GMA News Online has reached out to Lacson for comment and will publish it once available.

In the same Facebook Live, Cayetano said the country should have a permanent solution or system to fight against corruption and that the investigation of the flood control mess should continue.

“‘Pag lumipas itong administration at hindi natin sineryoso ang flood control at ‘yung infra na corruption sa DPWH, babalik at babalik ito mas masama pa. Para itong TB (tuberculosis) na hindi niyo tinuloy ‘yung gamot, magiging drug-resistant ‘yung strain.”

(If this administration ends and we do not take flood control and the infra corruption in the DPWH seriously, it will come back and come back even worse. It’s like TB (tuberculosis) that if you do not continue the medication, the strain will become drug-resistant.)

Cayetano previously criticized some members of the new Senate majority, calling them “tuta” or “lapdogs” of Malacañang.

On June 3, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian was installed as Senate President Pro Tempore after senators aligned with the minority bloc convened and elected him.

He was later formally elected as the new Senate President during a special session on June 17, replacing Cayetano and ending the leadership dispute in the chamber.

In response to Cayetano’s “lapdog” remarks, Lacson said Cayetano may be on the brink of a “meltdown.” — JMA, GMA News