Lacson questions minority senators' move to reconsider Tulfo ouster bid

MANILA — Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson on Saturday voiced concerns over the actions of three minority senators who backed a motion to reconsider a petition aimed at ousting Sen. Erwin Tulfo, stating their position undermined the principles of justice and fairness.

Lacson, speaking through a post on social media platform X, took issue with the three senator-members of the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) who supported the reconsideration motion. The veteran legislator did not specify which senators he was referring to in his public statement.

The controversy centers on a petition filed against Tulfo, with the recent SET vote raising questions about the tribunal's direction on the matter. Lacson's intervention highlights ongoing tensions within the Senate over how the electoral body should handle cases brought before it.

The SET, composed of nine senators, serves as the upper chamber's arbiter in electoral disputes and similar matters. The tribunal's decisions have become increasingly contentious in recent months as various petitions challenge sitting senators' eligibility to hold office.

Lacson's criticism adds another layer to the political debate surrounding Tulfo's status and reflects broader concerns among some senators about the consistency and impartiality of tribunal proceedings.