After confirming multimillion-peso budget insertions in 2023 and 2025 tied to Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is now waiting for “receipts” or proof of commissions they allegedly got from flood control projects.
Lacson said Friday that the “receipts” will aid in crafting stronger anti-corruption and accountability measures, as well as help the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and other prosecution bodies like the Ombudsman or Department of Justice.
In radio and TV interviews Friday morning, Lacson said he will ask Senate President Vicente Sotto III to allow ex-Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer Brice Hernandez to leave the Senate premises under escort, to produce these “receipts.” Hernandez had given details linking the two senators and a member of the House of Representatives to the insertions and claimed they got 30% commissions from flood control projects.
In Filipino: Lacson, ‘Sagasa Mode’ Na, Naghihintay ng ‘Resibo’ sa Flood Control Komisyon ng mga Senador
“We need to find proof or receipts if we are to make a recommendation or to pass the evidence to the ICI, to support Hernandez’s claims that he gave 30% commissions to the two senators as he alleged,” Lacson said in Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio.
“The issue is whether he gave commissions to the two senators. That is for him to prove. If he has proof like a ledger, he has to show it. I told him yesterday at the hearing that the burden of proof is on him,” he added.
He said that as of Friday morning, he is preparing a letter request to Senate President Vicente Sotto III to allow Hernandez to leave the Senate under escort from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday or Sunday, but only to find and produce documents that may aid the Blue Ribbon committee to find the truth.
“If Hernandez cannot produce the documents, his claims on the commissions will remain allegations. But if he can produce them Monday or in the next hearing, we can use them to recommend charges against our two colleagues before the ICI or Ombudsman,” he said in an interview on Balitanghali.
During Thursday’s Blue Ribbon panel hearing, Lacson confirmed that P600 million supposedly for flood control projects in Bulacan was found in the Unprogrammed Fund under the 2023 General Appropriations Act, which Hernandez earlier linked to Villanueva. This was after Lacson’s staff noticed this in documents provided by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian. Villanueva has denied the insertion.
Lacson said he and his staff found eight items worth P75 million each, thus lending credence to Hernandez’s allegations.
Earlier, Lacson and his office found in the regular budget of the 2025 GAA the P355 million in infrastructure projects in Bulacan that Hernandez linked to Sen. Jinggoy Estrada. Estrada similarly denied Hernandez’s allegations.
Lacson said the P355 million was for seven projects in Bulacan. He said their initial check showed all the projects were listed as being in the third phase but actual construction was still in the first phase.
“One issue was that funds were released for the third phase, but the project is still in the first phase of construction,” he said.
When asked if Hernandez would be made a state witness, Lacson said his case should be evaluated by the Department of Justice first.
‘Sagasa mode’
Lacson said he and Sotto are now in “sagasa mode” – or being relentless – in ferreting out the truth, pointing out that the Senate as an institution has been dragged into the flood control project mess.
“Sotto and I talked about this. At this stage of our political careers, we’re going all out, no matter who gets hurt,” he said on DZRH.
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Lacson, ‘Sagasa Mode’ Na, Naghihintay ng ‘Resibo’ sa Flood Control Komisyon ng mga Senador
Matapos makumpirma ang mga multimillion-pisong budget insertions noong 2023 at 2025 na konektado kina Sen. Joel Villanueva at Jinggoy Estrada, naghihintay na si Senate President Pro Tempore at Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson ng mga “resibo” o ebidensya ng umano’y komisyon na natanggap ng dalawa mula sa flood control projects.
Ani Lacson, ang mga “resibo” o katibayan ay magiging batayan hindi lamang sa paggawa ng mas matibay na batas laban sa korapsyon, kundi para na ring matulungan ang Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) at ibang prosecution body tulad ng Ombudsman at Department of Justice.
Sa mga panayam nitong Biyernes ng umaga, sinabi ni Lacson na hihilingin niya kay Senate President Vicente Sotto III na payagang makalabas ng Senado, sa ilalim ng escort, ang dating DPWH engineer na si Brice Hernandez upang makuha ang mga dokumento o “resibo” na magpapatunay sa kanyang paratang na mayroong 30% commission na ibinigay sa dalawang senador at isang miyembro ng Kamara.
“Kailangan natin ng malinaw na resibo kung sakaling gagawa kami ng rekomendasyon o ipapasa sa Independent Commission for Infrastructure. Yan ang magpapatibay sa alegasyon na nagbigay siya ng 30% commission sa dalawang senador,” ani Lacson sa DZBB.
“Ang isyu kung talaga bang nagbigay siya ng komisyon sa dalawang senador, yan ang dapat niyang patunayan. Kung may ledger o katibayan, ipakita niya. Ang burden of proof ay nasa kanya,” dagdag niya.
“Kung walang katibayan, mananatiling allegation yan pero kung meron sa Monday or sa next hearing… pwede naming i-recommend sa ICI or Ombudsman na file-an ng kaso ang aming dalawang colleagues,” aniya sa Balitanghali.
Noong Huwebes, kinumpirma ni Lacson na may P600M na flood control projects sa Bulacan na nakalagay sa Unprogrammed Fund ng 2023 GAA — alokasyon na unang itinuro ni Hernandez kay Villanueva. Natuklasan ito matapos repasuhin ng staff ni Lacson ang mga dokumentong ipinasa ni Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.
Nakita rin ni Lacson at ng kanyang opisina sa regular budget ng 2025 GAA ang P355M na proyekto sa Bulacan na iniuugnay naman kay Estrada. Lumabas pa na may pondo nang inilabas para sa Phase 3, pero nasa Phase 1 pa lang ang aktwal na konstruksyon.
Tinanong kung maaaring gawing state witness si Hernandez, sinabi ni Lacson na DOJ ang dapat mag-evaluate nito.
‘Sagasa mode’
Giit ni Lacson, siya at si Sotto ay nasa “sagasa mode” na ngayon — walang pinapalampas, walang sasantuhin.
“Napag-usapan namin ni Senate President ito. Sagasa na kami sa puntong ito ng aming political career. Basta may ebidensya, wala kaming sasantuhin,” aniya sa DZRH.
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It’s about time that the wind of change engulfs this nation. More and more honest men and women will stand ground to bear witness and fight for truth and justice.