Photo from the office of Sen. Panfilo Lacson
MANILA, Philippines — As soon as the session adjourned last week, Senator Panfilo Lacson has started packing up his things with a “sense of fulfillment” that he had managed to keep his nose clean during his 18 years in the Senate.
Lacson is one of eight senators whose term will end on June 30.
“No heavy heart, just a sense of fulfillment primarily because for the last 18 years, I’ve managed to keep my nose clean, while doing my job dutifully and with utmost integrity,” he said in a text message.
Photo from the office of Sen. Panfilo Lacson
“My heart goes out to my staff though,” he went on. “When I talked to them in batches of 4-5 last Thursday, June 4, naubos ang tissue ko sa office sa kaiiyak nila.”
In a separate text message, Lacson said in jest about being on the verge of tears until he realized the costly price of tissue in the supermarket.
Like Lacson, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has also started preparing to leave the chamber where he served for 24 years.
“I have work until the 29th so slow packing up,” the Senate leader said in another text message.
“Relax muna but just standby,” he said in a separate text, “I might embark on an advocacy that will be controversial but necessary.”
Sotto did not elaborate.
According to him, he would surely miss the people—particularly his lawyers and staff— he worked with in the Senate but not the piles of documents that he has to sign.
“Hindi ko mami-miss ang mga papeles and hundreds of documents I have to sign,” Sotto said.
It is also without a heavy heart that Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto has started to pack up his things.
After all, he will just continue his legislative work in the lower chamber of Congress as he is set to assume his post as the new representative of Batangas.
“I have been fortunate to be given the opportunity to serve our people in the Senate for 18 years. I’m very grateful,” Recto said.
Aside from Sotto, Recto, and Lacson, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senator Richard Gordon have also started moving out of their offices.
Three more senators—Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Leila de Lima, and Manny Pacquiao—will also end their term on June 30.