In an interview, Sen. Lacson answers questions on:
– a prospective new agency to handle disaster-related matters
– preparations for a possible impeachment trial
Quotes from the interview…
On the congressional oversight committee hearing on RA 10121:
“There’s really a need to create a separate agency which I advocated when I was still PARR, which was not addressed at the time. Kaya I’m thankful to Sen. Honasan and Rep. Espino na-convene ang Congressional Oversight Committee. So we’re getting there.”
“Sabi nga ng OCD kanina, huwag natin i-treat na cost pag nag-create tayo ng isang department that will address all disasters. After all, No. 3 tayo sa buong mundo pagdating sa disasters. I-treat natin as an investment kasi ang laki ng nawawala sa atin kapag nagkaroon ng disaster at hindi tayo ready.”
On the possible creation of a separate new agency to handle disasters:
“It’s in the offing. Sa TWG na yan sa House. I hope the Senate, the counterpart which is the Senate defense committee, can catch up in terms of introducing amendments.”
“Ito puro lateral coordination, tapos monitoring, policy-making. Laging meeting ng meeting. Na-experience ko ito nang nasa Yolanda ako, wala kaming ginawa kundi mag-meeting. At very short sa implementation. Kung may lead agency that will assume all responsibility, at least ang implementation mapapabilis.”
“Ang NDRRMC is a council, it is chaired by the SND pero ang co-chairs niya rito ang NEDA, DOST, DSWD, DILG. So wala. Lateral, puro horizontal and vertical coordination pero walang nangyayari pagdating sa implementation.”
“Lahat dapat pati implementation kanila.”
On whether a new agency could bloat the bureaucracy:
“Kaya ang dapat tingnan natin not as an added cost but investment for future disasters. It’s not as if the country is being visited once or twice by typhoons. Ang ano nga natin minsan nauubos ang alphabet sa pangalan ng typhoons umaabot sa Zorayda at bumabalik tayo sa A within 1 year. Ganoon karami ang typhoon sa bansa natin. Not to mention volcanic eruptions, storm surge, and so forth.”
On the fate of the NDRRMC once the new agency is created:
“Wala na ang council. There’s already a lead agency… Ang OCD, ganoon din. Technical arm lang naman sila ng NDRRMC ngayon. So yan ang magiging core ng bagong agency.”
On the quo warranto case:
“This issue involves the highest court of the land. This involves no less than the SC. So ako as a senator who would be a potential judge and jury if and when the articles of impeachment are transmitted to the Senate. I’d rather exercise supreme prudence kasi SC ang pinaguusapan. Huwag na natin paghimasukan, they know what to do… So mas mainam ang let’s wait for the SC to do their thing kasi sinasabi ng abogado unprecedented ang filed na petition ng OSG. And wait and see anong action to be taken by the SC.”
On preparations for a possible impeachment trial:
“Ang advantage namin naka-experience na maging judge sa impeachment court over those na first-timers, kami may experience how to go about it.”
Brushing up on…
“Sa rules on court, rules on evidence. Maski di kami lawyers pwede naman basahin yan.”
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