Public anger combined with sustained vigilance could be key to countering the greed and callousness of lawmakers behind questionable insertions in the proposed 2027 national budget, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson expressed hope that the “kapalmuks” behind the attempts to mangle the budget anew would be proven wrong by the efforts of lawmakers and budget advocacy groups pushing for accountability.

In Filipino: Lacson, Umaasang Galit at Pagmamatyag ang Magiging Susi sa Malinis na 2027 Budget

“When anger meets vigilance, greed and callousness face a fierce fight. The flood control scandal has barely settled, yet the ‘kapalmuks’ of the world are testing the limits of the people’s patience yet again. I would like to think they are wrong this time… Thanks to the People’s Budget Coalition and all like-minded individuals standing together for accountability,” he said in a post on X.

“Galit is not enough, vigilance is not enough. Pag pinagsama ang galit at ang vigilance, may paglalagyan talaga (Anger alone or vigilance alone will not be enough. But combine them and the ‘kapalmuks’ will have something to reckon with),” he added in an interview on DZMM radio.

Lacson welcomed overtures from some House of Representatives members to meet with the budget advocacy groups, particularly as public opinion increasingly supports the groups’ calls for accountability.

He also reiterated his calls for additional transparency measures in the budget process, including keeping livestreams running even during breaks – especially during the bicameral conference committee proceedings.

In the meantime, Lacson said he and his staff continue to scrutinize the proposed budget measure, checking for insertions and whether projects listed in the measure are viable and have met the needed requirements.

“Nagkakaisa kami dito maski sino tatamaan. Dito pwede apply sabi ni (former Justice Adolfo) Azcuna, all means all. Walang sacred cows, maski sino pa ang nag-insert. Kung di maimplement at kulang sa requirement kailangan kaltasin (We in the majority bloc have agreed that there will be no sacred cows. As former Justice Adolfo Azcuna said, all means all. There will be no sacred cows as far as those who made insertions are concerned. If there are projects that cannot be implemented or lack the needed requirements, they will be removed),” he reiterated.

Lacson likewise stressed anew that he is working to demand accountability as a matter of advocacy for honest public service, as he has no further political ambitions.

“I am left with no further political ambitions. Whatever I do now is pure advocacy in pursuit of honest public service which I love doing no matter the cost,” he said.

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Lacson, Umaasang Galit at Pagmamatyag ang Magiging Susi sa Malinis na 2027 Budget

Maaaring maging susi ang pagsasama ng galit ng publiko at patuloy na pagmamatyag upang labanan ang kasakiman at pakapalan ng mukha ng mga mambabatas na nasa likod ng mga kuwestiyonableng pagsingit sa panukalang 2027 national budget, ayon kay Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Miyerkules.

Umaasa si Lacson na masopla ng sama-samang pagsisikap ng mga mambabatas at mga grupong nagsusulong ng pananagutan at maayos na paggamit ng pondo ng bayan ang mga “kapalmuks” na muling nagtatangkang kalikutin ang pambansang budget.

“When anger meets vigilance, greed and callousness face a fierce fight. The flood control scandal has barely settled, yet the ‘kapalmuks’ of the world are testing the limits of the people’s patience yet again. I would like to think they are wrong this time… Thanks to the People’s Budget Coalition and all like-minded individuals standing together for accountability,” aniya sa post sa X.

“Hindi sapat ang galit, hindi rin sapat ang pagbabantay. Kapag pinagsama ang galit at pagbabantay, may paglalagyan talaga ang mga iyan,” dagdag niya sa panayam sa DZMM radio.

Malugod na tinanggap ni Lacson ang mga alok ng ilang miyembro ng Kamara na makipagpulong sa mga grupong nagsusulong ng maayos at tapat na paggamit ng pondo ng bayan, lalo’t lumalakas ang sumusuporta sa panawagan ng mga ito para sa pananagutan.

Iginiit muli niya na kailangang dagdagan ang mga hakbang para matiyak ang transparency sa proseso ng pagbuo at pagtalakay sa budget, kabilang ang pagpapatuloy ng livestream kahit may mga break—lalo na sa mga pagdinig ng bicameral conference committee.

Samantala, sinabi ni Lacson na patuloy nilang sinusuri ng kanyang mga staff ang panukalang budget upang matukoy ang mga insertion at matiyak kung maisasakatuparan ang mga proyektong nakapaloob dito at kung kumpleto ang mga kinakailangang dokumento at iba pang rekisito.

“Nagkakaisa kami dito maski sino tatamaan. Dito puwedeng i-apply ang sinabi ni (dating Justice Adolfo) Azcuna na ‘all means all.’ Walang sacred cows, maski sino pa ang nag-insert. Kung hindi maipatutupad ang isang proyekto o kulang sa mga kinakailangan, kailangang kaltasin,” muli niyang iginiit.

Muli ring binigyang-diin ni Lacson na ang pagsusulong niya ng pananagutan ay bahagi na lamang ng kanyang adbokasiya para sa tapat na paglilingkod-bayan, dahil wala na siyang iba pang ambisyong pampulitika.

“I am left with no further political ambitions. Whatever I do now is pure advocacy in pursuit of honest public service which I love doing no matter the cost,” aniya.

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