Strict, no-nonsense and “receipt” based. These will be the trademarks of Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson in conducting investigations as incoming chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, including the probe into substandard and ghost flood control projects.
Lacson said Tuesday that this approach will apply to the claims of Pacifico and Cezarah Discaya linking some lawmakers and officials to corruption.
“First of all, I will look for receipts. I will not rely on the say-so of others hook, line and sinker. In my privilege speeches, I do not rely on mere reports or testimonies. Instead, I ask myself what evidence do I have to support what I will say?” he said in Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio.
In Filipino: Incoming Blue Ribbon Chairman Lacson, Magdedemanda ng Resibo sa Imbestigasyon sa Flood Control
He said he will also take a closer look at the supposed ledgers and vouchers containing the amounts supposedly given to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials and lawmakers.
Lacson stressed that to ensure fairness in the investigation, he will be on the lookout for “selective” testimonies from the Discayas and other resource persons.
Also, he said he will start where the previous Blue Ribbon Committee hearings on the flood control projects left off.
Meanwhile, Lacson said he does not see any conflict with the work of the independent commission to be formed by Malacanang, since the Blue Ribbon Committee’s work is in aid of legislation.
He said he will even furnish the independent committee with evidence gathered during the Blue Ribbon probe, to help in the prosecution of those found liable.
“No, they won’t because they are separate. If we find evidence we will pass it to the independent commission. I have talked to DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon about this,” he said when asked if the Blue Ribbon committee probe will clash with that of the independent commission.
Lacson said he has furnished Dizon with evidence based on his first privilege speech. He said he will furnish Dizon with new evidence after his second privilege speech.
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Incoming Blue Ribbon Chairman Lacson, Magdedemanda ng Resibo sa Imbestigasyon sa Flood Control
Mahigpit, walang palusot at nakabatay sa resibo. Ito ang magiging tatak ni Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson sa kanyang mga imbestigasyon bilang incoming chairman ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, kabilang na ang imbestigasyon sa mga substandard at ghost flood control projects.
Sinabi ni Lacson nitong Martes na gagamitin niya ang ganitong pamamaraan sa mga alegasyon nina Pacifico at Cezarah Discaya na nagdudugtong sa ilang mambabatas at opisyal sa katiwalian.
“Unang una, resibo ang hahanapin ko. Di pwedeng say-so, di pwedeng maski sino ang ituro ay hook, line and sinker, yun na yun. Siyempre hanapin mo ng pruweba. Kasi ako mahilig ako sa resibo eh. Pagka ako, sa privilege speech ko, hindi po pwedeng basta sasabihin ko lang na bali-balita lamang o sabi-sabi ng kung sino. Kailan tingnan mo, teka muna, anong magbaback-up dyan na ebidensya na totoo yan?” ani Lacson sa panayam sa DZBB.
Dagdag pa niya, titingnan din niya nang masinsinan ang umano’y mga ledger at voucher na naglalaman ng mga halagang ibinigay umano sa mga opisyal ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) at sa ilang mambabatas.
Binigyang-diin ni Lacson na upang masiguro ang patas na imbestigasyon, babantayan niya ang mga “selective” na testimonya mula sa mga Discaya at iba pang resource persons.
Aniya, magsisimula siya kung saan natigil ang mga nakaraang pagdinig ng Blue Ribbon Committee hinggil sa flood control projects.
Samantala, sinabi ni Lacson na hindi niya nakikitang magkakaroon ng sagupaan sa gagawing trabaho ng independent commission na bubuuin ng Malacañang, dahil ang Blue Ribbon Committee ay gumagalaw “in aid of legislation.”
Dagdag niya, handa pa siyang ibahagi sa independent commission ang mga ebidensyang makakalap ng Blue Ribbon probe, upang makatulong sa paglilitis ng mga mapapatunayang may pananagutan.
“Wala. Magkahiwalay yan… Pero kung meron kaming makalap kaming evidence doon ipapasa namin sa independent commission. Nag-usap kami ni DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon diyan,” tugon ni Lacson sa DZXL, nang tanungin kung magkakaroon ng banggaan ang imbestigasyon ng Blue Ribbon committee at ng independent commission.
Sinabi ni Lacson na nabigyan na niya si Dizon ng mga ebidensyang batay sa kanyang unang privilege speech. Dagdag niya, muli siyang magbibigay kay Dizon ng panibagong ebidensya matapos ang kanyang ikalawang privilege speech.
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