Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson denied that talks of increasing the number of senators from 24 to 36—entailing Charter change, colloquially known as “Cha-cha”—had ever been seriously considered, and that the minority had planned to raise the qualifying age for presidential candidates on Monday.
Lacson acknowledged witnessing part of a conversation involving several officials, including Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and former Senate secretary Oscar “Dong” Mendoza, but maintained that the discussion was merely casual.
“I confirmed that I witnessed a portion of their conversation. I think, present during that discussion, of course, the Minority leader, Speaker Bojie Dy, the Deputy Speaker (Ferdinand) Hernandez, and the former Secretary of the Senate Dong Mendoza,” Lacson said.
According to Lacson, he had accidentally entered the wrong area while on his way to a board meeting when the matter came up.
He recounted that the discussion touched on the possibility that, in the event Charter change pushes through, the House Speaker might request an increase in the number of senators from 24 to 36.
Lacson said his own participation in the conversation was limited to discussing whether the Senate building could accommodate additional senators.
“‘Tamang-tama, ilang kuwarto ba nandoon sa Senate building?’ Sabi ko, ‘Sixty-five, kasi ‘yun ang request ni Senator Pimentel. At that time, he was also thinking of increasing the number of senators. So 36 lang ang kailangan,’” he said.
The senator added that he may have been the source referred to by political strategist Lito Banayo after he later shared the anecdote during a casual Thursday gathering attended by several political personalities.
“Wala namang seryoso sa pinag-uusapan so I shared… So parang kuwentuhan lang ‘yun. Kung seryoso ‘yun, hindi ko ikukuwento kasi sensitive kung seryoso,” he said.
Lacson likewise denied allegations that minority senators had discussed taking over the Senate to facilitate a constituent assembly, or Con-Ass, for Charter change.
“I also confirm the manifestations of several of my colleagues in the Minority na never naming napag-usapan in as many caucuses that we held. Ang pinag-uusapan lang po namin, kung papaano natin isasalba ‘yung integridad, ‘yung dignidad, ‘yung reputasyon ng Senado,” he said.
He also disputed claims that the minority had considered raising the minimum age requirement for presidential and vice presidential candidates from 40 to 50 years old, supposedly to disqualify Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Outright lies. Flat (-out) lies. Kasi hindi po totoo na napag-usapan doon na itaas ‘yung qualifying age pagtakbo sa presidente at bise presidente from 40 to 50 para ma-disqualify si Vice President Sara Duterte. Nothing could be farther from the truth,” Lacson said.
Instead, Lacson said he had even jokingly asked Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III whether he wanted to lower the age requirement for his nephew, Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto.
Lacson also expressed support for striking the entire video shown during Senator Imee Marcos’ privilege speech containing the allegations from Senate records.
Earlier, Senator Marcos declared she was opposed to alleged efforts to extend government officials’ terms, amending the 1987 Constitution, which she said was written against her family.
“Hindi ko inaakalang aabot sa punto ng buhay ko na ako, isang Marcos, magtatanggol (sa) 1987 Constitution, isang saligang batas na isinulat laban sa aming pamilya,” Marcos said, emphasizing the irony of her position as a Marcos defending the prevailing Constitution.
