MANILA, Philippines?He is out of sight, but not out of mind.

While members of the so-called ?super majority? bloc in the Senate are quarreling over committee chairmanships, Sen. Panfilo Lacson will get his choice committees without having to fight for it.

While in hiding, Lacson ?sent word? to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile about his wish to get the chairmanships of the Senate committees on defense and on accounts.

Lacson, the chief of the Philippine National Police under the truncated Estrada administration, went into hiding after he was formally indicted in court for alleged participation in the Dacer-Corbito double murder case.

Lacson neither showed up at Congress? opening on Monday nor voted in the leadership reorganization which saw the reelected Enrile being voted for the second time as leader of the upper chamber.

But Lacson seemed to be abreast of the developments in the Senate, which has largely become his refuge and political platform during the tumultuous administration of his political archenemy, then President Macapagal-Arroyo.

On the Senate infighting over committee chairmanships, Lacson was spared from the numerous closed-door caucuses this week, but still managed to get his demands on the negotiating table.

While he?s away, Senators Gregorio ?Greg? Honasan and Vicente Sotto III will temporarily cochair the two committees.

?We agreed that Greg and I will act as caretakers of the defense and accounts committees till he is able to return to the Senate,? said Sotto, Senate Majority Leader, in a phone interview.

Lacson had initially wanted to get the Senate ways and means committee, but Enrile gave it to Sotto.