In a radio interview, Lacson explained that the “rosy cheeks” remark referred to high blood pressure.
“Pinuntahan ko siya sa office niya noong after mag-resign [bilang Senate President si Sen. Enrile]. Umakyat ako sa opisina niya, pinasyalan ko muna. Isa lang ang advice ko sa kanya, ‘May tatlong taon ka pa sa Senado, huwag ka masyadong mainit ang ulo kasi nagro-rosy cheeks.’ Pag rosy cheeks tumataas ang blood pressure,” Lacson said on dzBB radio.
Lacson is leaving the Senate after serving two consecutive six-year terms, the maximum allowed by the 1987 Constitution. Enrile’s second consecutive six-year term ends in 2016.
Lacson said Enrile’s “rosy cheeks” had shown itself last year, during the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, and when he had a heated exchange with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.
“Nakakaalala rin, mahirap yan, traydor ang blood pressure,” he said.
Lacson also belied claims by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV that Enrile’s irrevocable resignation last Wednesday was just “drama.”
He said that when he went to Enrile’s office, he saw the staff was already packing and preparing to leave.
Inkling
Lacson said he had an inkling Enrile was going to resign when he saw Enrile’s privilege speech on the day’s agenda.
Had he found out earlier, Lacson said he would have tried to dissuade Enrile from resigning from the Senate presidency.
“Unang una, two session days na lang naiwan at may mga agenda rin na ira-ratify at ipapasa na batas. Ganoon din sana gagawin ko kung nalaman ko,” he said.
Lacson also said that while Enrile resigned before the Senate and its employees could sign a collective negotiation agreement, acting Senate president Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada could sign it. — DVM, GMA News
