FACT CHECK: Lacson remains a senator, did not resign

Claim: Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has resigned from office.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The video bearing the claim was posted on May 25 and has since garnered over 9,900 views, 800 likes, and 190 comments. Its thumbnail features the text, “Resign na! Lacson nag bitiw na!”

(Resigned already! Lacson has already resigned!)

Meanwhile, the video’s caption states: “Biglaan to! Lacson ginulat ang lahat! May balak na mag-resign as senator? Nag leave na sa group chat!”

(This is sudden! Lacson surprised everyone! Does he have plans to resign as a senator? He already left the group chat!)

The video was uploaded by the YouTube channel “PINAS BALITA TV,” which has over 171,000 subscribers and consistently posts spliced videos concerning social issues and Philippine government updates.

The facts: Lacson did not resign from office. He remains listed as a senator and a member of the 20th Congress on the official Senate website. 

The image used in the video’s thumbnail was actually taken when Lacson resigned as chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on October 6, 2025, not from his position as senator.

The false claim likely stemmed from a misrepresentation of a One News interview on May 22, in which Lacson shared that he had considered stepping down from his post, citing frustration over recent events in the upper chamber that he felt deeply wounded the institution’s public image.

“Minsan nag-iisip ako mag-resign eh. Naipahayag ko na rin ‘to kay Tito Sen na parang plano ko na mag-resign na lang as senator eh dahil sa nangyayari. Sabi niya sa akin, huwag naman. Pero there are times na naiisip ko ‘yan eh,” Lacson said.

(Sometimes I think about resigning. I even expressed to Tito Sen [Senator Tito Sotto] that I was planning to resign as a senator because of what’s happening. He told me, ‘Please don’t.’ But there are times that I think about it.)

The senator later clarified that he ultimately did not quit because he still sees hope that the Senate’s integrity can be restored if lawmakers self-reflect and improve their work.

“Nakikita namin na merong pag-asa na maibangon muli ‘yung integridad, ‘yung reputasyon, ‘yung dignidad ng Senado…Iyong trabaho namin bilang mga senador, gawin namin nang maayos at proper,” he added.

(We see that there is still hope to rebuild the integrity, reputation, and dignity of the Senate. We need to do our jobs as senators properly.)

Senate controversies: The Senate has been embroiled in various controversies following the leadership change last May 11, with Sotto out as Senate president and replaced by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

This was followed by a shooting incident on May 13 and the escape of International Criminal Court-wanted Senator Ronald Dela Rosa from the Senate, and a heated May 20 floor debate where Senator Pia Cayetano appeared visibly emotional as she contested Senator Risa Hontiveros’ remarks on the shooting incident.

On May 26, legislative proceedings ground to a halt when the minority bloc walked out over a proposal by Senator Rodante Marcoleta to permit online voting for senators who have “justifiable reasons” for not attending sessions in person. (WATCH: Senate online sessions: Who really stands to benefit?)

Debunked: Rappler has previously debunked similar claims regarding false reports of resignations or removal from post of public officials, including Lacson:

• FACT CHECK: Lacson still a senator, not expelled
• FACT CHECK: Lacson did not demand Marcos’ resignation 
• FACT CHECK: Marcos remains president, did not resign

– Reinnard Balonzo/Rappler.com 

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