Senator Lacson: From any political side, Monday's senate leadership change was 'ugly'

Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson said the way the leadership change happened at the Senate on May 11 was "ugly," no matter what one's political persuasion may be. 

In a news release, Lacson said the dramatic and surprising events that happened at the Senate on Monday, including Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa's claim of being pursued and "wrestled" by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), were an unpleasant sight.

"Any way you look at it, regardless of your political persuasion, what happened on Monday was ugly. It was an unpleasant sight," he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.

According to Lacson, once a bloc secures at least 13 senators, it is customary to inform the sitting Senate President by noon that they have the necessary numbers to effect a leadership change.

Under this tradition, the sitting Senate President ensures a smooth transition by voluntarily stepping down at the start of the session and nominating their successor. It is also common practice for the outgoing and incoming Senate Presidents to vote for one another, Lacson explained.

Lacson also said his former ally, Senator Lorna Regina “Loren”  Legarda, who replaced him as Senate Pro Tempore, should have informed the majority at that time, or at least then Senate President Vicente Sotto III, of her intentions.

Lacson said he respects Legarda's decision to join Cayetano’s team but said he had hoped for more direct communication rather than learning about it unexpectedly.

-Paraluman News