He cried foul, yet stopped short of denying that he sought P500 million in “allocables” from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson thus called out Sen. Rodante Marcoleta Friday over his privilege speech protesting his inclusion in a presentation linking lawmakers to allocables, which Lacson had branded as the new pork barrel.
“He ‘deliberately’ missed the most important reaction: deny or refute the handwritten note (c/o Cong Marcoleta) on the document as presented,” Lacson said in a post on X.
In Filipino: Lacson: Marcoleta, ‘Sinasadyang’ Iwasan na Pabulaanan ang Handwritten Note sa P500M “Allocables”
@iampinglacson
Last Tuesday, Lacson delivered a privilege speech presenting evidence and initial recommendations stemming from the Blue Ribbon panel’s hearings so far on the flood control scandal.
The presentation included a slide indicating Marcoleta requested P500 million in “allocables” for infrastructure projects, based on a handwritten note by the late DPWH Undersecretary Catalina Cabral.
The document, provided by Cabral’s camp, is among the pieces of evidence that the Blue Ribbon panel plans to transmit to the Office of the Ombudsman in its fact-finding and possible case buildup.
But Lacson also pointed out that Marcoleta would not be recommended for investigation for now – although such a recommendation may follow if there are ghost or substandard projects attributed to him.
On Wednesday, Marcoleta delivered his own privilege speech, fuming over his inclusion in the presentation in Lacson’s speech – but without directly denying or refuting the P500-million request.
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Lacson: Marcoleta, ‘Sinasadyang’ Iwasan na Pabulaanan ang Handwritten Note sa P500M “Allocables”
Nag-ingay siya tungkol sa umano’y pagdidiin sa kanya sa isyu, pero hindi naman niya tahasang itinanggi na humingi siya ng P500 milyong “allocables” mula sa Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Ito ang pagkwestyon ni Senate President Pro Tempore at Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Biyernes kay Sen. Rodante Marcoleta kaugnay ng privilege speech nito na tumutuligsa sa pagkakasama ng kanyang pangalan sa presentasyong nag-uugnay sa ilang mambabatas sa “allocables,” na ayon kay Lacson ay bagong anyo ng pork barrel.
“He ‘deliberately’ missed the most important reaction: deny or refute the handwritten note (c/o Cong Marcoleta) on the document as presented,” ayon kay Lacson sa isang post sa X.
Nitong Martes, nagbigay si Lacson ng privilege speech kung saan inilahad niya ang mga ebidensiya at paunang rekomendasyon na lumitaw sa mga pagdinig ng Blue Ribbon panel hinggil sa umano’y flood control scam.
Kabilang sa presentasyon ang isang slide na nagpapakitang umano’y humiling si Marcoleta ng P500 milyong “allocables” para sa mga proyektong pang-imprastruktura, batay sa isang sulat-kamay na note ng yumaong DPWH Undersecretary Catalina Cabral.
Ang naturang dokumento, na ibinigay ng kampo ni Cabral, ay kabilang sa mga ebidensiyang planong isumite ng Blue Ribbon panel sa Office of the Ombudsman bilang bahagi ng fact-finding at posibleng case buildup nito.
Gayunman, nilinaw din ni Lacson na hindi pa irerekomenda sa ngayon si Marcoleta para imbestigahan — bagama’t maaari itong mangyari kung may mga ghost o substandard projects na maiuugnay sa kanya.
Isang araw matapos ng privilege speech ni Lacson, nagbigay naman si Marcoleta ng sarili niyang talumpati kung saan ipinahayag nito ang galit sa pagkakasama ng kanyang pangalan sa presentasyon ni Lacson — ngunit hindi naman pinabulaanan ang umano’y kahilingan na P500 milyon.
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