Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Sunday set the record straight on Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s insinuation that he is meddling in Marcoleta’s work as chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee in looking into the mess involving substandard and ghost flood control projects.
Lacson was referring to Marcoleta’s claim in his television program where he insinuated that Lacson sought to adjust the schedule of the hearing because he did not want him to chair the hearing.
“In his TV program, he was criticizing some of us – myself, Sen. Francis Pangilinan, along with Senate minority leader Vicente Sotto III for proposing the creation of an independent body to investigate flood control anomalies in what he claims to be an attempt to undermine the mandate of the Blue Ribbon Committee which he chairs, and Sen Tulfo, to name a few. To set the record straight, no one is interfering in his work. We all want to have good governance,” Lacson said in Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio.
In Filipino: Lacson Nilinaw ang Pahayag ni Marcoleta Ukol sa Flood Control Mess Probe
Lacson was referring to Marcoleta’s Aug. 29 TV program where Marcoleta criticized Lacson for asking to reschedule the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing scheduled for Sept. 1, because the Senate finance committee was to hold a hearing on the 2026 budget on the same date.
The Blue Ribbon Committee is scheduled to hold its hearing on the flood control project mess at 9 a.m., while the Finance Committee will hold its hearing at 10 a.m., with a briefing by the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) on the Proposed Fiscal Year 2026 National Expenditure Program.
In his program, Marcoleta questioned the need to reschedule the hearing, adding it seems that “talagang ayaw nila na makapagsisimula ako ng pagdinig (they don’t want me to chair the hearing).”
Lacson replied that his motion was not directed only at Marcoleta, as he pointed out that both hearings are very important.
“I was not asking for him to reschedule his hearing. I merely asked either hearing to be held on another date, because they are both important. I am not belittling his committee’s hearing, and I recognize his mandate as chairman,” he said.
“I merely wanted to correct any misimpressions Sen. Marcoleta’s words may have created. I don’t want a fight but I won’t back down from one,” he added.
DBCC Briefing
Lacson said he plans to attend the finance committee hearing at 10 a.m., but may attend the first part of the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing if it starts on time at 9 a.m.
For the DBCC briefing, Lacson said he plans to quiz the resource persons on five topics:
* Explanation by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on the government’s borrowings and disbursements.
* Explanation on why the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)’s budget for 2025 surpassed that of the education sector, in violation of the 1987 Constitution that decrees the education sector is to have the highest budgetary priority.
* Explanation on how the DBM will implement Executive Order 82 strengthening the Regional Development Councils, when traditionally only 20% of the output of local development councils is adopted in the National Expenditure Program when the local government units know the needs and priorities of their localities.
* Explanation on the government’s policy on unprogrammed appropriations, which were tapped by lawmakers in inserting P1.1 billion into the flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro.
* Explanation of the DBM’s efforts to promote transparency and educate the public on how their taxes are spent.
*****
Lacson Nilinaw ang Pahayag ni Marcoleta Ukol sa Flood Control Mess Probe
Nilinaw ni Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Linggo ang paratang ni Sen. Rodante Marcoleta na umano’y pinakikialaman niya ang trabaho niya bilang chairman ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee sa pagsisiyasat sa gulo kaugnay ng substandard at ghost flood control projects.
Tinukoy ni Lacson ang pahayag ni Marcoleta sa kanyang palabas sa TV, kung saan ipinahiwatig ni Marcoleta na gusto ni Lacson na baguhin ang iskedyul ng pagdinig dahil ayaw umano nitong si Marcoleta ang mamuno sa hearing.
“Sa kanyang TV program pinipintasan niya kami, sabi niya pinanghihimasukan daw namin siya sa kanyang mandato. Walang nanghihimasok dito. Gusto naming lahat mapaayos ang takbo ng gobyerno,” ani Lacson sa panayam ng DZBB.
Binanggit din ni Lacson na pati si Sen. Francis Pangilinan at Senate minority leader Vicente Sotto III ay pinuna din ni Marcoleta dahil sa pagmungkahi ng independent body para imbestigahan ang anomalya sa flood control project.
Tinukoy ni Lacson ang programa ni Marcoleta noong Agosto 29, kung saan pinuna siya nito dahil humiling siyang i-reschedule ang nakatakdang pagdinig ng Blue Ribbon Committee sa Setyembre 1. Ito ay dahil nakatakda ring magsagawa ng pagdinig ang Senate finance committee hinggil sa 2026 budget sa parehong araw.
Nakatakdang magsagawa ng pagdinig ang Blue Ribbon Committee tungkol sa flood control project mess alas-9 ng umaga, habang ang Finance Committee ay may pagdinig alas-10 ng umaga, na sisimulan ng briefing ng Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) hinggil sa Proposed Fiscal Year 2026 National Expenditure Program.
Sa kanyang programa, tinanong ni Marcoleta ang pangangailangan ng rescheduling, at idinagdag pa na “talagang ayaw nila na makapagsisimula ako ng pagdinig.”
Tugon ni Lacson, hindi lang si Marcoleta ang kanyang pinakiusapan dahil parehong mahalaga ang dalawang pagdinig.
“Hindi lang siya pinakikiusapan ko. Ang manifestation ko baka pwedeng paghiwalayin ang petsa kasi parehong napakaimportante. Hindi ko naman minemenos ang kanyang Blue Ribbon Committee hearing. Nire-recognize ko ang kanyang mandato,” ani Lacson.
“Gusto ko i-correct ang misimpression na pwedeng naki-create ni Sen. Marcoleta. Ayoko ng away pero pag inaway niya kami, aawayin ko din siya,” dagdag niya.
DBCC Briefing
Sinabi ni Lacson na plano niyang dumalo sa finance committee hearing alas-10 ng umaga, ngunit maaari rin siyang dumalo sa unang bahagi ng pagdinig ng Blue Ribbon Committee kung ito’y magsisimula sa takdang oras na alas-9 ng umaga.
Para sa DBCC briefing, sinabi ni Lacson na plano niyang tanungin ang mga resource persons hinggil sa limang paksa:
* Paliwanag ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM) tungkol sa pangungutang at paggastos ng pamahalaan.
* Paliwanag kung bakit lumampas ang budget ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) para sa 2025 sa pondo ng sektor ng edukasyon, na labag sa 1987 Constitution na nagtatakda na dapat pinakamalaki ang alokasyon sa edukasyon.
* Paliwanag kung paano ipatutupad ng DBM ang Executive Order 82 na nagpapalakas sa Regional Development Councils, gayong tradisyunal na 20% lamang ng output ng local development councils ang naisasama sa National Expenditure Program kahit na mas alam ng mga LGU ang pangangailangan ng kanilang lugar.
* Paliwanag tungkol sa polisiya ng pamahalaan hinggil sa unprogrammed appropriations, na ginamit ng mga mambabatas upang magpasok ng P1.1 bilyon sa flood control projects sa Oriental Mindoro.
* Paliwanag tungkol sa mga hakbang ng DBM upang itaguyod ang transparency at maturuan ang publiko kung paano ginagastos ang kanilang buwis.
*****
MARCOLETA FALL IN LINE. YOU ARE JUST A NEW ELECTED SENATOR. YOU LIKE MAKING WAVES. IT’S TOO EARLY, EARNED THE RESPECT OF SENIOR SENATORS FIRST BEFORE START BBUBBLING YOUR MOUTH. HE LOVES GRANDSTANDING.