Evidence, not noise, should drive the investigation into the corruption behind anomalous flood control projects.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed this on Wednesday as he shut down Sen. Maria Imelda Josefa Remedios Romualdez “Imee” Marcos’ repeated personal attacks against him – while unearthing evidence that could link her cousin, former Speaker Martin Romualdez, to the Discayas.
Lacson cited persistent reports that the former Speaker bought a house and lot in a plush subdivision in Makati City, using the Discayas as front in the said sale. If verified to be true, he said this could possibly establish a direct connection between the former Speaker and the Discayas.
“This is what I’m advising Senator Imee Marcos. Noise does not convict, neither does it indict even who may be perceived as the most guilty in the flood control projects saga. Only evidence does. So if Sen. Marcos has evidence to contribute to implicate her cousin, she should take part in Monday’s hearing. No one will stop her on what she wants to do,” Lacson said in English and Filipino at the Kapihan sa Senado media forum.
In Filipino: Lacson kay Imee: Ebidensiya, Hindi Ingay, ang Dapat Magtulak sa Imbestigasyon sa Flood Control
He added they want to know why Romualdez trusted a contractor who had been linked to P207.5 billion in possibly questionable contracts from 2016 to 2025.
“If there is indeed a connection, we want to know why he trusted the Discayas. The information I got showed he asked the former owner to ‘name your price’ so we want to know how for much the house was sold,” he added.
Lacson said the committee may invite Romualdez, likely through the office of the Speaker as part of inter-parliamentary courtesy.
He added he is now arranging a meeting with the former owner of the house and lot. He said the former owner indicated willingness to testify.
Meanwhile, Lacson shut down Sen. Marcos’ insinuations on her social media accounts about his sexuality.
“Either Sen. Imee thought I was wearing a wig or she was insinuating I am a homosexual. On both counts, I say nothing can be farthest from the truth. I do not wear a wig or dentures. Nothing in my body is fake,” he said.
“Second, I am not a homosexual. Don’t get me wrong – I have nothing against homosexuals, it is their choice and I respect them for that. But as far as I’m concerned, even if I’m not perfectly handsome, I enjoy being a man. Like Tito Sotto and Gringo Honasan, I am macho. Period. End of discussion,” he added.
‘Overpromising and Underdelivering’
Meanwhile, Lacson said the administration should underpromise and overdeliver in going after those involved in the flood control mess – instead of the other way around.
He said this may be why fewer Filipinos believe the government can go after and catch the big fish, as shown in recent surveys.
“The government should underpromise and overdeliver, not overpromise and underdeliver. But it seems the latter is happening,” he said.
Yet, Lacson said he still believes the government is serious in going after the culprits, based on his talks with officials of the Department of Justice and Office of the Ombudsman. “They are very serious,” he said.
Culture of Corruption
Lacson voiced concern over the “culture” of corruption if those involved in the flood control mess are allowed to get away.
He also sympathized with Rep. Leandro Leviste, who he lauded for exposing corruption involving infrastructure projects, over the brickbats he is getting from some sectors – adding he had a similar experience when he exposed corruption during the Arroyo administration.
“Somehow my heart goes out to him. At the time I was a neophyte senator and could not understand why I was subjected to heavy pressure. But looking back, I understand that it’s all part of the game,” he said.
“Don’t be overexposed in media because people could get fed up,” he added.
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Lacson kay Imee: Ebidensiya, Hindi Ingay, ang Dapat Magtulak sa Imbestigasyon sa Flood Control
Dapat ebidensiya at hindi ingay ang magtulak sa imbestigasyon sa katiwalian sa likod ng mga kuwestiyonableng flood control projects.
Binigyang-diin ito ni Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Miyerkules matapos niyang patigilin ang paulit-ulit na personal na pag-atake ni Sen. Maria Imelda Josefa Remedios Romualdez “Imee” Marcos laban sa kanya—habang inilalantad ang ebidensiyang maaaring mag-ugnay sa pinsan nito na si dating Speaker Martin Romualdez sa mga Discayas.
Ani Lacson, ang mga tuloy-tuloy na ulat na ang dating Speaker umano ay bumili ng bahay at lupa sa isang mamahaling subdibisyon sa Lungsod ng Makati, gamit ang mga Discayas bilang “front” sa naturang bentahan. Kapag napatunayang totoo, aniya, maaari itong magpatibay ng direktang koneksiyon sa pagitan ng dating Speaker at ng mga Discayas.
“This is what I’m advising Senator Imee Marcos. Noise does not convict, neither does it indict even who may be perceived as the most guilty in the flood control projects saga. Only evidence does. Kaya kung meron siyang maiaambag na ebidensiya para madiin ang kanyang pinsan, sumali siya sa pagdinig. Walang pipigil sa kanya at walang magbababawal sa sasabihin niya o gagawin niya,” ani Lacson sa Kapihan sa Senado media forum.
Dagdag pa niya, nais nilang malaman kung bakit nagtiwala si Romualdez sa isang kontratistang naiuugnay sa P207.5 bilyong posibleng kuwestiyonableng kontrata mula 2016 hanggang 2025.
“Kung may connection, dapat maliwanagan natin bakit ganun kalakas ang pagkatiwala mo… Name your price ang usapan, gusto natin maliwanagan kung magkano,” dagdag niya.
Sinabi ni Lacson na maaaring imbitahan ng komite si Romualdez, malamang sa pamamagitan ng tanggapan ng Speaker bilang bahagi ng inter-parliamentary courtesy.
Idinagdag niya na inaayos na niya ang pakikipagpulong sa dating may-ari ng bahay at lupa, na ayon sa kanya ay nagpahayag ng kahandaang tumestigo.
Samantala, pinabulaanan ni Lacson ang mga pahaging ni Sen. Marcos sa kanyang mga social media account hinggil sa seksuwalidad niya.
“Either Senator Imee thought na piluka yung buhok ko or she was insinuating na bakla ako. Kaya siya naghamon ng sabunutan. On both counts, I say nothing can be farthest from the truth. Una, hindi po piluka ang aking buhok. Idugtong ko na rin na walang peke sa mukha ko. Hindi rin pustiso ang ngipin ko. My teeth are all mine. Uulitin ko, walang peke sa anumang bahagi ng aking mukha,” aniya.
“Pangalawa, lalong hindi ako bakla. At kung iniisip ni Senator Imee na bakla ako, wala siyang maaring makita na macho dito sa mundo. Please don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against homosexuals. It is their choice and I respect them for that. But as far as I’m concerned, kahit hindi ako kagwapuhan, para sa akin masarap pa rin na maging tunay na lalaki. At tulad nina Tito Sotto at Gringo Honasan, macho din po ako, lalaking-lalaki. Period. End of discussion,” dagdag niya.
‘Overpromising and Underdelivering’
Dagdag ni Lacson, dapat underpromise and overdeliver ang administrasyon sa pagtugis sa mga sangkot sa kaguluhan sa flood control—hindi ang kabaligtaran.
Aniya, maaaring ito ang dahilan kung bakit mas kaunti ang naniniwalang kayang habulin at mahuli ng gobyerno ang mga “big fish,” batay sa mga kamakailang survey.
“Kailangan mag underpromise and overdeliver ka, huwag mag-overpromise and underdeliver. It seems ganun ang nangyari,” aniya.
Gayunman, naniniwala pa rin si Lacson na seryoso ang gobyerno sa pagtugis sa mga salarin, batay sa kanyang pakikipag-usap sa mga opisyal ng Department of Justice at Office of the Ombudsman. “Seryoso talaga,” aniya.
Kultura ng Korupsiyon
Ipinahayag ni Lacson ang kanyang pangamba sa “kultura” ng korupsiyon kung makakalusot ang mga sangkot sa kaguluhan sa flood control.
Nagpahayag din siya ng pakikiisa kay Rep. Leandro Leviste, na pinuri niya sa pagbubunyag ng korupsiyon sa mga proyektong pang-imprastraktura, sa kabila ng mga batikos na tinatanggap nito mula sa ilang sektor—dagdag pa niyang naranasan din niya ang katulad nito nang ilantad niya ang korupsiyon noong panahon ng administrasyong Arroyo.
“Somehow my heart goes out to him… at the time neophyte ako noon I could not understand, but now looking back naintindihan ko na, yan talaga ang laro,” aniya.
“Huwag ung bara-bara… huwag ang araw-araw sa TV siya, di ba nakakaumay din,” dagdag niya.
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