Marilyn Cahatol

Senators engaged in rigorous deliberation on the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, weighing constitutional precedents and procedural safeguards during Wednesday’s plenary session, August 6, 2025.

 Joseph B. Vidal/OSP

Article (news)

SENATE- IMPEACHMENT VOTE- SC DECISION

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176103677683520250806-senate-impeachment-vote-lacson-OSP-4.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Senators engaged in rigorous deliberation on the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, weighing constitutional precedents and procedural safeguards during Wednesday’s plenary session, August 6, 2025. Joseph B. Vidal/OSP "/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false" style="text-align:left">Senators engaged in rigorous deliberation on the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, weighing constitutional precedents and procedural safeguards during Wednesday’s plenary session, August 6, 2025. <em>Joseph B. Vidal/OSP </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Senator JV Ejercito acknowledged the possibility of Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson returning as Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman, after no senator expressed willingness to take the position. </p><p>&quot;Kasi walang takers din eh no,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/7/lacson-says-resignation-as-senate-blue-ribbon-chair-is-final-1722">Lacson says resignation as Senate blue ribbon chair is ‘final’</a></div><p>Ejercito, who <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2025/10/3/ejercito-says-he-and-4-others-considered-leaving-sotto-led-senate-majority-1330">previously considered leaving the majority bloc</a>, explained he even had suggestions to Lacson on the direction of the hearing before the latter quit the panel.</p><p>&quot;Actually kami ni Sen. Lacson, nag-uusap kami naman yan. In fact, sinabi ko sa kanya na suggestion ko, that time when he was still Blue Ribbon Chair, mayroon akong mga taong pinaimbita.&quot;</p><p>Ejercito pertained to other regional directors or district engineers in &quot;equally notorious&quot; areas like Oriental Mindoro, where <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/9/8/p17-8-b-flood-control-projects-inserted-in-oriental-mindoro-budget-from-2022-to-2025-gov-1311">P17.8 billion of flood control projects</a> were found inserted, which he said Lacson agreed to.</p><p>&quot;Halimbawa yung Mindoro, di ba grabe rin yun from P1 billion yung NEP (National Expenditure Program) naging 20 billion ang GAA (General Appropriations Act) niya both Occidental and Oriental. Even their own governor said so, na meron talagang panay substandard,&quot; he said. </p><p>The senator noted that he and Lacson are on good terms. &quot;As I&#x27;ve said, we&#x27;re okay. Wala naman kami naging masamang tinapay. Wala kami naging masamang pinagsamahan.&quot;</p><p>Ejercito maintained that the majority bloc has already sorted out past concerns over the way the flood control investigation was handled.</p><p>He downplayed the risk that Lacson&#x27;s return as BRC chair <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/20/lacson-says-reaccepting-blue-ribbon-chairmanship-may-have-consequences-on-senate-majority-1847">may trigger </a>a change in the Senate leadership.</p><p>Meantime, Ejercito hopes other government infrastructure projects will benefit from the realignment of flood control funds. </p><p>But the senator expressed concern about diverting the funds to <em>ayuda </em>or financial aid due to reports that they were not delivered to their supposed beneficiaries.</p><p>&quot;Kaya hindi ako masyadong sang-ayon na lahat mapunta sa ayuda kasi nga meron akong naririnig na mga reports na hindi nakakarating sa mga dapat na matulungan, lalong-lalong yung mga poorest of the poor, yung dapat na mapunta sa kanila. Kumbaga nakakalungkot, pera na nga to na pantulong na eh, kinakaltasan pa. Huwag naman sana.&quot;</p><p>He said he is also collecting affidavits about allegedly incomplete distribution of financial aids like the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) and Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program  (AKAP).</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m just collating yung mga affidavits, no? Whether AICS, AKAP na halimbawa P8,000 ang nakukuha lang nila P3,000, P4,000 saan na pupunta yung iba?&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JsfYRgnrYCE?si=JRQouLZO5UmnTnAL" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Senator JV Ejercito acknowledged the possibility of Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson returning as Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman, after no senator expressed willingness to take the position.</p>

Senator JV Ejercito acknowledged the possibility of Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson returning as Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman, after no senator expressed willingness to take the position.

Ejercito: Lacson's return as Blue Ribbon chair possible

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Ejercito: Lacson's return as Blue Ribbon chair possible

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 21, 2025 05:12 PM PHT

Read More:

Ping Lacson

Senate

Blue Ribbon Committee

JV Ejercito

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