A double whammy may await former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials if they recant their sworn statements related to the corruption behind anomalous flood control projects, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Sunday.
Lacson, who set the next hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on the matter on Jan. 19, said they will not only face sanctions for perjury, but their recantation will fail to weaken the cases being built against those involved.
“If they will recant, they may be liable for violating the law on perjury, Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code as amended by RA 11594, which raises the penalty for perjury to up to 12 years. This is aside from a penalty of P1 million and perpetual absolute disqualification if the offender is a government official,” he said in an interview on DZBB radio, amid reports indicating the officials may recant.
In Filipino: Lacson, Inilahad ang mga Posibleng Parusa sa Pag-uurong ng Salaysay, Tinuligsa ang mga Pagsisikap na Sirain ang Proseso
Yet, he said that even if the DPWH officials involved recant their statements, this may not sway the investigation into the flood control scandal as circumstantial or documentary evidence such as items in the budget books linking personalities – including lawmakers – to the mess had been bared in previous Blue Ribbon hearings.
He added the Department of Justice is investigating the case while the Anti-Money Laundering Council has initiated the freezing of accounts of some of those involved.
“Their statements are not standalone evidence. The case won’t die or collapse on the basis of their recantation,” he said.
Lacson added that former DPWH Bulacan engineers Henry Alcantara and Brice Hernandez had already turned over money and vehicles to the government, an indication that they admitted wrongdoing.
Also, he said he is not discounting the possibility that some of those implicated may have reached out to the ex-DPWH officials. “I won’t wonder if some of those implicated may have reached out to the ex-DPWH officials through their lawyers,” he said.
Next Blue Ribbon Hearing
Lacson said he has set the next hearing of the Blue Ribbon Committee on the flood control project mess for Jan. 19, at 1 p.m.
He said the committee will subpoena personalities it already invited before but did not show up. These include ex-DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, ex-Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar, and Meynard Ngu – as well as ex-Rep. Elizaldy Co.
If those who are subpoenaed still fail to attend, he will recommend to the Senate President the issuance of warrants for their arrest.
“Olaivar and company were invited but did not show up. We already subpoenaed them. If they still won’t show up, we can issue warrants for their arrest,” he said.
He said he wants to clarify with the Budget Department and Office of the Executive Secretary how a Special Allotment Release Order that allowed the release of P50 billion from the unprogrammed appropriations in the budget was released on Dec. 27, 2024.
Also, he said the committee may invite Rep. Leandro Leviste, coursed through the House leadership, if Leviste agrees.
He said there are similarities between the documents Leviste has made public, and those that he has – although Lacson said he has yet to see the “SAP” and “OP” Leviste referred to.
When asked if the “Cabral files” would be enough basis to file cases against Cabinet members, he said the documents must be authenticated by the DPWH first.
Bid to Discredit Blue Ribbon Committee
Meanwhile, Lacson scored the baseless criticisms by Sen. Maria Imelda Josefa Remedios “Imee” Marcos of the Blue Ribbon Committee even if she never attended a hearing he chaired.
He debunked her claims that he banned members from linking personalities such as former Speaker Martin Romualdez to the issue, noting that in the first place, she never attended hearings that he chaired.
Also, he addressed Sen. Marcos’ claims of him “limiting” senators to 10 minutes in asking questions, saying this was needed so each senator can have his/her turn to ask questions.
“In the first place, what pressure is she talking about when she never attended any of the hearings I chaired?” he said.
“I have said before that the best response to nonsense is silence. But when she starts insulting, I cannot disregard it anymore. By insulting the Blue Ribbon Committee, she is undermining its integrity. Why does she not attend and ask questions?” he added.
Lacson said he remains puzzled over why some senators including Marcos and Sen. Rodante Marcoleta seem intent on disrupting the Blue Ribbon hearings, with Marcoleta earlier questioning Lacson’s objectivity.
“The problem is that there are those who want to disrupt the investigation. I don’t know what their end game is,” he said.
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Lacson, Inilahad ang mga Posibleng Parusa sa Pag-uurong ng Salaysay, Tinuligsa ang mga Pagsisikap na Sirain ang Proseso
May naghihintay na double whammy sa mga dating opisyal ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) sakaling bawiin nila ang kanilang mga sinumpaang salaysay kaugnay ng katiwalian sa likod ng mga maanomalyang flood control projects, ayon kay Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Linggo.
Ani Lacson, na nagtakda ng susunod na pagdinig ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hinggil sa usapin sa Enero 19, hindi lamang sila mananagot sa kasong perjury, kundi hindi rin umano mapapahina ng kanilang pag-uurong ng salaysay ang mga kasong binubuo laban sa mga sangkot.
“Kung sila magre-recant, magiging liable sila sa violation ng batas sa perjury, Art 183 sa Revised Penal Code. Amended ito ng RA 11594, ito ang in-author ni SP Sotto, kami mga co-author din kami kung saan tinataas ang penalty ng perjury na kasama dito ang perjury kasi maski anong sworn statement na under oath at sinama dito sa legislative inquiry, tinaas ang penalty na prision mayor. 6 years and 1 day to 12 years. At may multa na P1M at perpetual absolute disqualification kung government official,” aniya sa panayam sa DZBB radio.
Gayunman, sinabi ni Lacson na kahit bawiin pa ng mga sangkot na opisyal ng DPWH ang kanilang mga salaysay, hindi matik na hihina ang imbestigasyon sa flood control scandal, dahil naiprisinta na sa mga nakaraang pagdinig ng Blue Ribbon Committee ang mga circumstantial at dokumentaryong ebidensiya — kabilang ang mga dokumento sa budget na nag-uugnay sa ilang personalidad, pati na mga mambabatas, sa isyu.
Dagdag pa niya, iniimbestigahan na ng Department of Justice ang kaso habang ginagawa na rin ng Anti-Money Laundering Council ang pag-freeze ng mga bank account ng ilan sa mga sangkot.
“So hindi standalone ito. Parang hindi mamamatay o babagsak ang kaso on the basis of their recantation,” aniya.
Idinagdag ni Lacson na naibigay na ng mga dating DPWH Bulacan engineers na sina Henry Alcantara at Brice Hernandez ang pera at mga sasakyang isinuko nila sa pamahalaan—isang indikasyon umano ng pag-amin ng pagkakasala.
Sinabi rin niya na hindi niya isinasantabi ang posibilidad na may ilan sa mga nasasangkot ang nakipag-ugnayan na sa mga dating opisyal ng DPWH. “Hindi nakakapagtaka kung kinakausap sila through their lawyers ng lawyers naman ng sinasangkot nila,” aniya.
Susunod na Pagdinig ng Blue Ribbon Committee
Ayon kay Lacson, itinakda ang susunod na pagdinig ng Blue Ribbon Committee hinggil sa anomalya sa flood control projects sa Enero 19, 1 p.m.
Sinabi niyang magsu-subpoena ang komite sa mga personalidad na dati nang inimbitahan ngunit hindi dumalo sa mga pagdinig. Kabilang dito sina dating DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, dating Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar, at Meynard Ngu — gayundin si dating Rep. Elizaldy Co.
Kung hindi pa rin sisipot ang mga isusubpoena, irerekomenda umano niya sa Senate President ang paglalabas ng warrant of arrest laban sa kanila.
“Sina Olaivar ang inimbita namin na hindi dumating noon at sinubpoena namin, pag sinubpoena at di dumating, nasa Constitution din yan na pwede silang ma-issue-an ng arrest warrant,” aniya.
Sinabi rin ni Lacson na nais niyang linawin sa Department of Budget and Management at sa Office of the Executive Secretary kung paano nailabas ang isang Special Allotment Release Order na nagbigay-daan sa pagpapalabas ng P50 bilyon mula sa unprogrammed appropriations ng budget noong Disyembre 27, 2024.
Dagdag pa niya, maaaring imbitahan ng komite si Rep. Leandro Leviste, sa pamamagitan ng liderato ng Kamara, kung papayag ito.
Ayon kay Lacson, may pagkakahawig ang mga dokumentong inilabas ni Leviste at ang mga hawak niya, bagama’t hindi pa umano niya nakikita ang tinutukoy ni Leviste na “SAP” at “OP.”
Nang tanungin kung sapat na batayan ang tinaguriang “Cabral files” upang magsampa ng kaso laban sa mga kasapi ng Gabinete, sinabi ni Lacson na kailangan munang ma-authenticate ang mga dokumento ng DPWH.
Paninira sa Blue Ribbon Committee
Samantala, tinuligsa ni Lacson ang umano’y walang basehang mga kritisismo ni Sen. Maria Imelda Josefa Remedios “Imee” Marcos laban sa Blue Ribbon Committee, kahit hindi naman ito dumalo sa alinman sa mga pagdinig na kanyang pinamunuan.
Pinabulaanan niya ang pahayag ni Marcos na pinagbawalan umano niya ang mga miyembro na iugnay ang ilang personalidad, gaya ni dating Speaker Martin Romualdez, sa isyu, at iginiit na hindi naman ito dumalo sa mga pagdinig na kanyang pinamunuan.
Tinugon din niya ang paratang ni Sen. Marcos na “nililimitahan” niya sa 10 minuto ang pagtatanong ng mga senador, na aniya’y kinakailangan upang mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang bawat senador na makapagtanong.
“Unang una paano niyang masasabing pinagbawalan, hindi naman siya nag-a-attend ng hearing?” ani Lacson.
“Meron akong nasabi ko na ito, the best response to nonsense is silence. Pero pagka nagiinsulto na, hindi mo na rin pwedeng i-disregard. Iniinsulto niya ang Blue Ribbon Committee, ina-undermine niya ang integridad ng committee na member din naman siya doon. Bakit di siya mag-attend at tanungin niya?” dagdag pa niya.
Sinabi ni Lacson na nananatili siyang naguguluhan kung bakit tila determinado ang ilang senador—kabilang sina Marcos at Sen. Rodante Marcoleta—na gambalain ang mga pagdinig ng Blue Ribbon Committee, matapos kuwestiyunin ni Marcoleta ang pagiging obhetibo ni Lacson.
“Ang problema may ganyang mga kasamang nanggugulo talaga. Di ko alam ano ang kanilang end game,” aniya.
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