Lacson clarifies: ‘I’m not at all against Duterte’
SENATOR-ELECT Panfilo Lacson clarified on Sunday that he is not against Rodrigo Duterte despite saying earlier that even the President-elect could not dictate or stop Congress from doing its job.
“I’m not at all against President-elect Duterte as averred by Senator Cayetano. In fact, I continue to believe that the mayor can really make a difference in reducing crime and corruption in our country,” Lacson said in a text message, referring to Senator Alan Cayetano.
“I merely commented on his (Duterte) statement undermining the integrity and independence of the Senate because I felt it was my obligation to do so. Save for that, I’d rather not comment any further on Senator Alan’s obvious political trickery,” the returning senator added.
READ: Lacson: Nobody not even Duterte can dictate, thwart Senate’s duty
Lacson was apparently responding to Cayetano’s reported statements that the new emerging majority in the Senate might eventually become obstructionists.
Cayetano reportedly cited as an example how Lacson and incoming Senator Leila De Lima, who were reportedly joining the new majority bloc in the chamber, seemed to clash on various issues.
Lacson said “no amount of intrigue and self-serving statements coming from him (Cayetano) or anybody could alter what the majority of the senators of the 17th Congress consider as a sealed and delivered Senate presidency to Senator (Aquilino) Pimentel.”
It was Lacson who disclosed last week that a “super majority” had been formed to back Pimentel as the next Senate President in the 17th Congress.
READ: Lacson gives peek of likely Senate composition with Pimentel as head
This was confirmed by incumbent President Franklin Drilon and Pimentel, who claimed that at least 17 senators would support him.
Pimentel and Cayetano had openly expressed their desire to seek the Senate presidency.
Pimentel is the president of PDP-Laban now being headed by Duterte while Cayetano was the President-elect’s running mate in the last May 9 elections./ac/rga
