Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo identified Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson as the only senator without involvement in commitments or kickbacks from government infrastructure projects, based on his personal knowledge.

Bernardo made the statement Thursday while answering clarificatory questions from Third Division Associate Justice Ronald Moreno.

In Filipino: Bernardo: Lacson Lamang ang Senador na Walang Kinalaman sa mga Proyekto sa Imprastraktura

“Only Senator Lacson po,” news reports quoted Bernardo as saying when Moreno asked whether there were still lawmakers who could be considered “heroes” for refusing to accept money in connection with infrastructure projects.

Lacson said this should put to rest the naysayers casting doubt on his integrity.

“To the naysayers, let me be clear: I have never asked for or accepted allocables, leadership funds, bribes, or lobby money in any capacity in government. My greatest inheritance from my beloved parents, regardless of our station in life, is my integrity, and no amount of doubt can take that away,” he said.

Lacson has consistently rejected “pork” in all its forms, as well as bribe offers disguised as “lobby money,” throughout his stints as a law enforcer and lawmaker.

While in law enforcement, he turned down offers of bribes from gambling operators and other criminal figures. He also politely declined rewards offered by grateful relatives of kidnap-for-ransom victims whom he and his men had rescued.

More importantly, Lacson treasures integrity as his most prized inheritance from his parents.

He reiterated his vow to defend his integrity after it was attacked by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano last July.

At the time, Lacson shot down Cayetano’s insinuation when he questioned the increase in Lacson’s declared net worth, which he said seemed to have doubled based on his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) in 2025 compared to that in 2022.

Lacson clarified that his net worth almost quadrupled during the three years that he was out of government, having left the Senate on June 30, 2022 and earning his “wealth” through legitimate means as reflected in his income tax returns (ITRs) for two consecutive taxable years in 2023 and 2024.

Meanwhile, Lacson and his staff have uncovered various irregularities involving infrastructure projects as well as illegal reclamation in Taguig City. They have submitted to the Ombudsman at least 45 case studies detailing “systemic anomalies” in flood control infrastructure projects in Taguig. These prompted a fact-finding investigation by the Ombudsman into the allegations.

*****

Bernardo: Lacson Lamang ang Senador na Walang Kinalaman sa mga Proyekto sa Imprastraktura

Kinilala ni dating Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo si Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson bilang nag-iisang senador na walang kinalaman sa mga commitment o kickback mula sa mga proyekto sa imprastraktura ng gobyerno, batay sa personal niyang kaalaman.

Ginawa ni Bernardo ang pahayag nitong Huwebes habang sinasagot ang mga tanong ni Third Division Associate Justice Ronald Moreno para linawin ang ilang usapin.

“Only Senator Lacson po,” ani Bernardo nang tanungin ni Moreno kung mayroon pang mga mambabatas na maituturing na mga “bayani” dahil tumangging tumanggap ng pera kaugnay ng mga proyekto sa imprastraktura, ayon sa mga ulat.

Ani Lacson, ang testimonya ni Bernardo ay magpapatahimik sa mga nagdududa sa kanyang integridad.

“To the naysayers, let me be clear: I have never asked for or accepted allocables, leadership funds, bribes, or lobby money in any capacity in government. My greatest inheritance from my beloved parents, regardless of our station in life, is my integrity, and no amount of doubt can take that away,” ani Lacson.

Matagal nang tinatanggihan ni Lacson ang “pork” sa anumang anyo, gayundin ang mga alok na suhol na tinatawag na “lobby money,” kapwa sa kanyang panunungkulan bilang alagad ng batas at bilang mambabatas.

Bilang alagad ng batas noon, tinanggihan niya ang mga alok na suhol mula sa mga operator ng sugal at iba pang kriminal na personalidad. Magalang din niyang tinanggihan ang mga gantimpalang alok ng mga kamag-anak ng mga biktima ng kidnapping for ransom na nailigtas niya at ng kanyang mga tauhan.

Higit sa lahat, itinuturing ni Lacson ang integridad bilang pinakamahalagang pamana sa kanya ng kanyang mga magulang.

Muli niyang iginiit ang kanyang paninindigang ipagtanggol ang kanyang integridad matapos itong kuwestiyunin ni Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano noong Hulyo.

Noon, sinopla ni Lacson ang pahiwatig ni Cayetano na kahina-hinala ang pagtaas ng kanyang idineklarang net worth. Kinuwestiyon ni Cayetano ang tila pagdoble ng net worth ni Lacson batay sa paghahambing ng kanyang mga Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) noong 2025 at 2022.

Nilinaw ni Lacson na halos apat na beses ang itinaas ng kanyang net worth sa loob ng tatlong taong wala siya sa gobyerno, matapos siyang umalis sa Senado noong Hunyo 30, 2022. Aniya, nagmula sa lehitimong paraan ang kanyang “yaman,” gaya ng makikita sa kanyang mga income tax return (ITR) para sa magkakasunod na taxable year na 2023 at 2024.

Samantala, natuklasan ni Lacson at ng kanyang mga tauhan ang iba’t ibang iregularidad sa mga proyektong pang-imprastraktura at ilegal na reclamation sa Taguig City. Nagsumite sila sa Ombudsman ng hindi bababa sa 45 case study na nagdedetalye ng mga “systemic anomalies” sa mga flood control infrastructure project sa lungsod. Dahil dito, nagsagawa ang Ombudsman ng fact-finding investigation sa mga alegasyon.

*****