Lacson set for surprise return as Blue Ribbon chair

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson is set to be reelected as chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee next week.

Lacson previously resigned as committee chair on October 6, with his departure believed by some to be a strategic move to appease colleagues and preserve Senate President Vicente Sotto III's leadership.

His return to the committee is seen as a surprise, especially after his resignation was viewed as a "sacrificial lamb" for the Sotto-led majority bloc.

During his previous tenure, Lacson uncovered evidence in a flood control scandal involving government officials, private contractors, and lawmakers.

Witnesses had named Senators Chiz Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, and Joel Villanueva, as well as former Senators Nancy Binay and Bong Revilla, as recipients of kickbacks.

These kickbacks were allegedly received through budget insertions, prompting discussions about the direction of the probe and potential bloc realignments.