Lacson: Gov’t Must Not Waver in War vs Infrastructure Corruption

The government must not waver in its enthusiasm to fight the corruption behind anomalous infrastructure projects – including through a proposed Independent People’s Commission (IPC) as a potential successor to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Monday.

Lacson said the ICI, despite its limited powers, has managed to flush out useful information and complement the Ombudsman and Department of Justice in building solid cases against those responsible.

“I wonder why Malacanang’s enthusiasm is lost all of a sudden. I still believe that the ICI is serving its purpose in flushing out useful information, to say the least, for the Ombudsman and DOJ to proceed with their preliminary investigation and come up with solid cases against those responsible in the plunder of public funds,” he said.

“This, even when Congress has taken positive steps to follow the lead of the President in getting to the bottom of the unprecedented infrastructure anomalies never unearthed before by any of the past administrations,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Hindi Dapat Manghina ang Gobyerno sa Laban vs Korapsyon sa Inprastraktura

He was referring to reports quoting Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro as saying the creation of the IPC may duplicate the work handled by the Ombudsman and DOJ.

Lacson noted the IPC bill is part of the steps Congress has taken to follow President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s lead to look into the anomalies hounding flood control and other infrastructure projects.

Earlier, Lacson supported the swift passage of Senate Bill 1512 creating the IPC, which would potentially have the teeth the ICI lacked – including witness immunity and protection, rendering whistleblowers vulnerable to potential counter-charges and even harassment suits.

“The ICI sorely needs more powers and a wider authority, including for immunity of witnesses. That is why it can only refer cases to other agencies and not file them,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DWAN radio last weekend.

He also said ICI head Andres Reyes Jr. had voiced concerns to him about the possibility of witnesses being subjected to counter-charges.

Lacson added that while the ICI has subpoena powers, it cannot cite in contempt those who ignore the subpoenas – such as Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, who declined the ICI’s invitation because it supposedly had no jurisdiction over him.

“It will greatly help if the House and Senate can pass the bill all the way to the bicam, and if the President certifies the bill as urgent. I believe the Senate President and House Speaker may need to write the President to certify the measure as urgent,” he said.

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Lacson: Hindi Dapat Manghina ang Gobyerno sa Laban vs Korapsyon sa Inprastraktura

Hindi dapat manghina ang gobyerno sa pagsugpo sa korapsyon sa likod ng mga maanomalya proyekto sa imprastraktura — kabilang ang sa pamamagitan ng panukalang Independent People’s Commission (IPC) na maaaring kapalit ng Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), giit ni Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Lunes.

Ani Lacson, kahit limitado ang kapangyarihan ng ICI, marami pa rin itong nailalabas na mahahalagang impormasyon na nakatutulong sa Ombudsman at Department of Justice sa pagbuo ng matitibay na kaso laban sa mga sangkot.

“I wonder why Malacanang’s enthusiasm is lost all of a sudden. I still believe that the ICI is serving its purpose in flushing out useful information, to say the least, for the Ombudsman and DOJ to proceed with their preliminary investigation and come up with solid cases against those responsible in the plunder of public funds,” ani Lacson.

“This, even when Congress has taken positive steps to follow the lead of the President in getting to the bottom of the unprecedented infrastructure anomalies never unearthed before by any of the past administrations,” dagdag niya.

Tinukoy niya ang mga ulat kung saang binanggit ni Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro na maaaring dumoble ang trabaho ng IPC sa ginagawa na ng Ombudsman at DOJ.

Sinusuportahan ni Lacson ang mabilis na pag-apruba ng Senate Bill 1512 na lumilikha sa IPC, na magkakaroon sana ng mga kapangyarihang wala sa ICI — kabilang ang witness immunity at protection na mahalaga upang hindi mabiktima ang whistleblowers ng mga counter-charge at harassment suits.

“Kailangang kailangan ng ICI ng more powers at mas malaking authority. Pati immunity na hinihingi nila. Kaya refer lang sila ng refer, hindi nagfa-file,” aniya sa panayam sa DWAN nitong nakaraang weekend.

Binanggit din niya na si ICI head Andres Reyes Jr. mismo ang naghayag ng pangamba tungkol sa posibleng pagsasampa ng counter-charges laban sa mga testigo.

Sinabi rin ni Lacson na bagama’t may subpoena powers ang ICI, wala itong kapangyarihang mag-contempt sa mga tumatangging sumunod — gaya ni Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, na tinanggihan ang imbitasyon ng ICI sa dahilang wala raw itong hurisdiksiyon sa kanya.

“Kung maipasa sa House and Senate at kung magkasundo sa bicam at ma-certify sana ni Pangulong Marcos na urgent… Palagay ko dapat sumulat si Senate President and Speaker para i-certify as urgent,” ani Lacson.

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