Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson called for a genuine inter-agency investigation into claims linking Cabinet officials to multibillion-peso budget insertions for Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) infrastructure projects, as he warned that prematurely dismissing them risks the perception of a “cover-up.”
Lacson said it is too early for Malacanang to brand claims related to the insertions as “hearsay” especially since significant evidence had been unearthed, mainly from hearings of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee which he chairs.
“Instead of pursuing an honest-to-goodness inter-agency investigation by using whatever probative value was unearthed mainly from the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings, to prematurely dismiss the probable involvement of some members of the Cabinet as ‘hearsay’ may be interpreted as a euphemism for ‘cover-up,’” Lacson said.
In Filipino: Lacson, Nanawagan ng Inter-Agency Probe sa Umano’y Budget Insertions ng Ilang Cabinet Members; Nagbabala vs ‘Cover-Up’
He was referring to Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro’s dismissal of the allegations that some Cabinet secretaries are among proponents of infrastructure budget insertions in 2025 as “hearsay” with “no probative value.” Castro added the Palace would only respond to documents authenticated by the DPWH.
Lacson noted that the evidence generated by the Blue Ribbon Committee hearings include “testimonies, supported by official documents in the budget books like lists of items that corroborate the testimonies of resource persons whose involvement in the plunder of public funds have been clearly established through their admission against interest and under oath at that.”
Also, he cited the possible discovery of the “web of accounts” that would lead to the movements of funds as initiated by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
Lacson said the government cannot afford to ignore and risk fueling public indignation over the extent of corruption behind failed and ghost infrastructure projects.
“In the final analysis, we cannot blame the public, led by the Catholic Church, other religious sectors and civil groups for their unrelenting display of anger and distrust in government,” he said.
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Lacson, Nanawagan ng Inter-Agency Probe sa Umano’y Budget Insertions ng Ilang Cabinet Members; Nagbabala vs ‘Cover-Up’
Nanawagan si Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson para sa malalimang imbestigasyon sa mga alegasyong nag-uugnay sa ilang opisyal ng Gabinete sa budget insertions para sa infrastructure projects ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), sabay babala na ang maagang pagbasura sa mga ito ay maaaring magmukhang “cover-up.”
Ani Lacson, masyadong maaga para sa Malacañang na bansagan na “hearsay” ang mga ulat tungkol sa insertions, lalo na’t may mga mahahalagang ebidensya nang lumabas sa mga pagdinig ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee na kanyang pinamumunuan.
“Instead of pursuing an honest-to-goodness inter-agency investigation by using whatever probative value was unearthed mainly from the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings, to prematurely dismiss the probable involvement of some members of the Cabinet as ‘hearsay’ may be interpreted as a euphemism for ‘cover-up,’” ani Lacson.
Tinutukoy ni Lacson ang pahayag ni Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro na nagbasura sa mga alegasyon laban sa ilang Cabinet secretaries bilang “hearsay” at “no probative value.” Dagdag ni Castro, tutugon lamang ang Palasyo sa mga dokumentong authenticated ng DPWH.
Ayon sa mambabatas, kabilang sa mga ebidensyang nakalap ng Blue Ribbon Committee ang “testimonies, supported by official documents in the budget books like lists of items that corroborate the testimonies of resource persons whose involvement in the plunder of public funds have been clearly established through their admission against interest and under oath at that.”
Binanggit din niya ang posibleng pagtukoy sa “web of accounts” na magtuturo sa paggalaw ng mga pondo sa tulong ng Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
Giit ni Lacson, hindi kakayanin ng gobyerno na balewalain ang galit ng publiko dahil sa tindi ng korapsyon sa likod ng mga palpak at guniguning infrastructure projects.
“In the final analysis, we cannot blame the public, led by the Catholic Church, other religious sectors and civil groups for their unrelenting display of anger and distrust in government,” diin ni Lacson.
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