MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said he is considering stepping down as chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee amid criticisms over the panel’s handling of the probe into alleged anomalous flood control projects.

In a statement sent to reporters on Sunday, October 5, Lacson said he was contemplating his resignation after receiving feedback from colleagues who were dissatisfied with how the investigation was being conducted.

“Since all chairpersons of the Senate committees are elected by our peers, I serve at the pleasure of my colleagues, particularly the members of the majority,” Lacson said.

“Rightly or wrongly, when quite a number of them have expressed disappointment over how I’m handling the flood control project anomalies, I thought it’s time for me to step aside in favor of another member who they think can handle the committee better,” he added.

In an interview with DZBB, Lacson said he was preparing his resignation letter and may “formally manifest it in plenary when the Senate resumes its session.”

The senator also confirmed that the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged flood control irregularities, which was initially scheduled for Wednesday, October 8, had been canceled.

Lacson said the hearing was organized at the request of Sen. JV Ejercito to summon former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Mimaropa regional director Gerald Pacanan, one of ten DPWH officials who received show-cause orders from Secretary Vince Dizon for their alleged lavish lifestyles and involvement in substandard projects.

He explained that the cancellation was due to the unavailability of key documents and conflicts with other Senate hearings.

Lacson added that he had coordinated with the Department of Justice to verify the availability of the supposed “tell-all” affidavits of the Discaya couple and contacted the Office of the Executive Judge of the Manila Regional Trial Court to check if its probe into possible violations involving a notarized document concerning Orly Guteza, former security consultant Rep. Zaldy Co (Ako Bicol Partylist), and lawyer Petchie Espera had concluded.