Lacson: Why Didn’t TESDA Deny Having Staff Named Stephanie?

The case of a P5-million “allocation fund” offer linked to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is becoming “curiouser and curiouser,” with Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Monday questioning why the agency had not denied having a staff member named “Stephanie” who allegedly approached his office with the offer.

Lacson said that while TESDA Secretary Jose Francisco Benitez denied authorizing anyone to offer him an allocation, the agency’s failure to clarify whether “Stephanie” was its staff member leaves questions about how the alleged offer was made and whether such a practice exists within TESDA.

In Filipino: Lacson: Bakit Hindi Itinanggi ng TESDA na May Staff na Nagngangalang Stephanie?

“I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt na nag-deny siya agad and nagpasalamat na binigay alam (ko ang tungkol sa) pangyayari. Pero hindi ako kumbinsido, it’s much simpler if the good secretary had categorically said ‘wala kaming staff na ganyan.’ Doon agad maconvince tayo may gumagamit ng pangalan niya. Pero walang denial, sa pagkaalam ko (I am willing to give TESDA Sec. Benitez the benefit of the doubt after he immediately denied authorizing anyone to make the offer, and thanked me for bringing up the matter. But I am not quite convinced. It is much simpler to say they had no such staff, to convince us that someone was using his name. But to my knowledge, there was no such denial),” he said in interviews on DZMM and DZBB radio.

“Baka may staff sila, hindi siguro kikilos (na walang utos) not necessarily from Sec. Benitez. (And) I’d like to believe di lang ako ang nili-liaise nila. Ako, in-expose ko para maliwanag na tinanggihan ko (It is still possible they have a staff who made the offer, and that staff would not move without orders from higher-ups, not necessarily Sec. Benitez. And I’d like to believe I am not the only one they tried to liaise with. I exposed the offer to make it clear I did not accept it),” he added.

Last Saturday, Lacson exposed the P5-million “allocation fund” offer from TESDA relayed through his Senate staff, and warned other government agencies against brazenly offering budget funds to legislators.

The message thread identified the one who relayed the offer as “Stephanie Cordez from TESDA Central Office” and an “assigned liaison officer for Senator Ping Lacson” – and claimed to get the Senate staff’s number from one “Attorney Cyril Santiago.”

After Lacson declined the offer, “Stephanie” replied she will “relay to our heads.”

He earlier said he considered conducting an entrapment or sting operation to arrest those concerned, but took pity on “Stephanie” who he said was apparently only following instructions.

Also, he said he has instructed his staff “to provide Benitez with all available details to help their internal investigation get to the bottom of the issue.”

Lacson said he plans to seek further clarification when the TESDA’s proposed 2027 budget comes up for plenary debate in November.

“It is not the amount. The act of offering P5 million, mali na kaagad. Saan kukunin ang P5 million kundi sa pondo din ng bayan, kung sakaling totoo? Sa akin naman maliit o malaki, mali mag-offer ka ng pera kung saan nag-deliberate kami. That’s one form of lobbying, and that’s also a form of bribery (It is not the amount but the act of offering P5 million that is immediately wrong. Where would you get the P5 million if not from taxpayers’ money? Whether the amount being offered is big or small, it is unacceptable to offer it especially when we are deliberating on the budget. That’s one form of lobbying, and that’s also a form of bribery),” he said.

Meanwhile, Lacson reiterated that there is no place for money-laced lobbying especially during the budget process.

He said agencies whose proposed 2027 budgets were cut in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) could appeal to the House and Senate to restore funds, provided they can justify it.

Lacson said the Senate will continue to scrutinize the budget bill, together with budget advocates and civil society groups now helping them comb through the budget measure.

He likewise reiterated the need for transparency in the budget process, including keeping the livestream cameras rolling even during suspension of deliberations, particularly in the bicameral conference committee level.

“So dapat ituloy ang practice ng transparency pagdating sa budget (We must sustain the practice of transparency in the budget),” he said.

‘No to Ayuda Budget’

Lacson likewise warned against an overreliance on “ayuda” items such as the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially-Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) and Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), citing anecdotes of recipients of such funds spending the money on shopping and gambling.

He said that the country’s projected budget deficit of P1.695 trillion and projected national debt ballooning to P21.48 trillion in 2027 could leave the Philippines sinking further into debt. He also noted the projected gross borrowings of P3.043 trillion in 2027 for principal and interest payments.

Lacson said the Senate’s plan to slash P2 billion from its budget under the NEP to set an example of fiscal discipline could free up funds for realignment to education, health or other more productive endeavors, which would benefit Filipinos in the medium and long terms.

“Kung hindi tayo mag-invest sa productive endeavors walang balik yan. Lubog tayo ng lubog sa utang (If we don’t invest in productive endeavors, we won’t benefit in the long run. We will instead continue to sink deeper in debt),” he said.

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Lacson: Bakit Hindi Itinanggi ng TESDA na May Staff na Nagngangalang Stephanie?

Lalong nagiging palaisipan ang alok na P5-milyong “allocation fund” na iniuugnay sa Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), matapos kuwestiyunin ni Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Lunes kung bakit hindi itinanggi ng ahensya na mayroon itong staff na nagngangalang “Stephanie” na umano’y lumapit sa kanyang tanggapan upang ihatid ang alok.

Ani Lacson, bagama’t itinanggi ni TESDA Secretary Jose Francisco Benitez na pinahintulutan niya ang sinuman na mag-alok ng alokasyon sa senador, ang hindi paglilinaw ng ahensya kung empleyado nito si “Stephanie” ay nag-iiwan ng mga tanong kung paano ginawa ang umano’y alok at kung umiiral ang ganitong gawain sa TESDA.

Noong Sabado, inilantad ni Lacson ang alok na P5-milyong “allocation fund” na iniuugnay sa TESDA at ipinaabot sa pamamagitan ng kanyang Senate staff. Binalaan din niya ang iba pang ahensya ng gobyerno laban sa tahasang pag-aalok sa mga mambabatas ng pondo mula sa badyet.

Sa message thread, nagpakilala ang nag-alok na “Stephanie Cordez from TESDA Central Office” na diumano’y “assigned liaison officer for Senator Ping Lacson” – at kinuha diumano ang numero ng Senate staff ni Lacson mula sa isang “Attorney Cyril Santiago.”

Matapos tanggihan ni Lacson ang alok, sumagot si “Stephanie” na “ire-relay” niya ito “to our heads.”

Bagama’t pinag-isipan niyang magsagawa ng entrapment o sting operation upang maaresto ang mga sangkot, naawa siya kay “Stephanie,” na ayon sa kanya ay tila sumusunod lamang sa mga utos.

Sinabi rin niyang inatasan niya ang kanyang staff na “to provide Benitez with all available details to help their internal investigation get to the bottom of the issue.”

Balak ni Lacson na humingi ng karagdagang paglilinaw kapag tinalakay na sa plenaryo sa Nobyembre ang panukalang 2027 budget ng TESDA.

Samantala, muling iginiit ni Lacson na walang lugar ang paglo-lobby na may kalakip na pera, lalo na sa proseso ng pagtalakay sa badyet.

Sinabi niyang maaaring umapela sa Kamara at Senado ang mga ahensyang nabawasan ang panukalang 2027 budget sa National Expenditure Program (NEP) upang maibalik ang mga tinapyas na pondo, basta’t maipaliwanag at maipagtanggol nila ang kanilang mga kahilingan.

Ayon kay Lacson, patuloy na susuriing mabuti ng Senado ang panukalang badyet, katuwang ang mga budget advocate at civil society group na tumutulong ngayon sa masusing pagbusisi sa panukala.

Muli rin niyang iginiit ang pangangailangan ng transparency sa proseso ng pagbabadyet, kabilang ang pagpapatuloy ng livestream kahit sinuspinde ang mga deliberasyon, lalo na sa antas ng bicameral conference committee.

“So dapat ituloy ang practice ng transparency pagdating sa budget (We must sustain the practice of transparency in the budget),” aniya.

‘No to Ayuda Budget’

Nagbabala rin si Lacson laban sa labis na pag-asa sa mga pondong nakalaan para sa ayuda, gaya ng Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially-Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) at Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS). Binanggit niya ang mga salaysay tungkol sa ilang benepisyaryo na umano’y ginagastos sa pamimili at pagsusugal ang perang natatanggap mula sa mga programang ito.

Sinabi niya na dahil sa inaasahang budget deficit na P1.695 trilyon at paglobo ng pambansang utang sa P21.48 trilyon sa 2027, nanganganib na lalo pang mabaon sa utang ang bansa.

Binanggit din ni Lacson ang projected gross borrowings na P3.043 trilyon sa 2027 para sa principal at interest payments.

Ayon kay Lacson, ang planong pagbabawas ng Senado ng P2 bilyon sa sarili nitong badyet sa ilalim ng NEP, bilang pagpapakita ng disiplina sa paggasta, ay maaaring magpalaya ng pondong maililipat sa edukasyon at kalusugan o ibang mas produktibong gawain kung saan makikinabang ang mga Pilipino sa medium at long term.

“Kung hindi tayo mag-invest sa productive endeavors walang balik yan. Lubog tayo ng lubog sa utang,” aniya.

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