PINURI ni Senador Panfilo “Ping” Lacson sina Senador Francis “Chiz” Escudero at Senador Joel Villanueva sa pagdalo sa special session nitong Miyerkules kasama ang Gatchalian-led majority, at sinabing tumugon ang dalawa sa panawagan na pangalagaan ang Senado bilang institusyon.

Ginawa ni Lacson ang pahayag bago niya ihain ang mosyon para italaga si Senador Vicente “Tito” Sotto III bilang Senate President Pro Tempore matapos mahalal si Senador Sherwin Gatchalian bilang Senate President.

“I think I will be remiss of my duty and responsibility as a senator, colleague, and friend, if I didn’t thank and commend our two distinguished colleagues, Senator Chiz Escudero and Senator Joel Villanueva, for responding to their higher calling for this chamber, our beloved institution known as the Philippine Senate,” sinabi ni Lacson.

“Higher than their friendships. Their affiliations. And every individual member of this body. Even higher than themselves,” dagdag niya.

Dumalo sina Escudero at Villanueva sa special session kasama ang majority bloc na pinamumunuan ni Gatchalian, na nahalal bilang Senate President sa nasabing pagdinig.

Inilagay din ni Lacson sa record na kusa niyang binitiwan ang chairmanship ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

“I would also wish to put on record that I intentionally and voluntarily relinquished the chairmanship of what is known or often referred to as the most powerful committee, the Blue Ribbon, for two primary reasons,” sinabi ni Lacson.

“Number one, I am tired of losing old friends and creating new enemies. And number two, there are other colleagues who are equally, if not more qualified than this humble representation to take on the job,” dagdag niya.

Sinabi ni Lacson na handa sana siyang ipagpatuloy ang pagiging Blue Ribbon chairman kung walang ibang senador na tatanggap sa posisyon.

“If there were no takers, I was willing, albeit, with a heavy heart to retain and continue sitting as chairman and resume a duty that I am morally and obligated to perform,” sinabi niya.

Sa reorganisasyon, naitalaga rin si Lacson bilang chairman ng Senate committees on Accounts, Public Order and Illegal Drugs, at Ways and Means, ayon sa materyal.

Kasunod nito, inihain ni Lacson ang nominasyon kay Sotto bilang Senate President Pro Tempore, isang posisyong nabakante matapos mahalal si Gatchalian bilang Senate President.