Category: Hearings/Investigations

Posted on

Lacson: Smuggling, Unchecked Importation, Sloppy Govt Response ‘Killing’ Filipino Onion Farmers

SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija – Aside from smuggling, unchecked onion imports are pushing Filipino farmers to the brink, with disjointed government data and sloppy government response threatening to deepen the problem, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Thursday.

Lacson called out the Department of Agriculture and Philippine Statistics Authority for the discrepancies in their data on onion production and consumption, hindering the government from making the needed decisions to help our onion farmers.

At the hearing of the Senate committees on agriculture and local government here tackling the systemic collapse of onion farm-gate prices, he also scored the “very wide” communication gap between the DA and stakeholders.

“Paano tayo magkaroon ng magandang decision kung di kayo magkasundo (How can we arrive at effective decisions if your data is disjointed)?” he said, particularly addressing the representatives of the DA and PSA here.

“Napakaimportante na kumpleto at accurate ang data para kung magpaplano tayo. Maski sa military operations, kung mali ang assumption, debacle – patay ang lahat na sundalo (It is very important that your data is complete and accurate so we can plan properly. In military operations, if the assumptions are wrong, the soldiers get killed and we experience a debacle),” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Bukod sa Smuggling, Di-Kontroladong Pag-aangkat at Palpak na Pagtugon, ‘Pumapatay’ sa Onion Farmers Natin

Continue reading “Lacson: Smuggling, Unchecked Importation, Sloppy Govt Response ‘Killing’ Filipino Onion Farmers”

Posted on

Lacson Thanks Cloma Descendant for Ancestor’s Discovering, Occupying, Owning, Donating KIG to PH

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Tuesday thanked a descendant of trader Tomas Cloma for her ancestor’s role in discovering, occupying and eventually donating the Kalayaan Island Group to the Philippines.

Lacson particularly extended his thanks through Col. Jacquelyn Cloma, one of the military officers whose promotion was up for confirmation before the Commission on Appointments (CA) – and whose husband is the great-grandson of the KIG’s discoverer.

“Please extend my regards and I’d like to thank him on behalf of his lolo-sa-tuhod, Tomas Cloma, for discovering and occupying and owning and donating to the Philippine government the Kalayaan Island Group,” he said at the confirmation hearing of the CA’s committee on defense.

In Filipino: Lacson, Nagpasalamat sa Inapo ni Cloma sa Papel ng Ninuno sa Pagtuklas at Pag-angkin ng KIG para sa PH

Continue reading “Lacson Thanks Cloma Descendant for Ancestor’s Discovering, Occupying, Owning, Donating KIG to PH”

Posted on

Lacson Pushes Budget Reforms to Ensure Transparency, Alignment, Realistic Execution

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Tuesday renewed his push for reforms that would enhance transparency in government spending, alignment between the national government and local government units (LGUs), and flexibility for implementing projects, activities, and programs.

At the Senate finance committee’s hearing, Lacson raised major concerns that include the “disappearance” of the Unified Accounts Code Structure (UACS), the need to synchronize local development councils’ outputs with national budget calls, and limitations on unprogrammed appropriations.

Lacson, a watchdog of the national budget, pushed for the strict implementation of the UACS system used to track the projects for funding in the budget bill, noting that the UACS would disappear once the National Expenditure Program (NEP) is transformed into the House and Senate versions or authorization phase of the budget cycle – then reappear on the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)’s website during implementation of the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

In Filipino: Lacson, Itinulak ang Reporma sa Badyet para sa Transparency, Pagkakaugnay, at Realistic na Pagpapatupad

Continue reading “Lacson Pushes Budget Reforms to Ensure Transparency, Alignment, Realistic Execution”

Posted on

Lacson Presents Deterrent for Corrupt BIR Collectors as He Pushes Reform Mode in Govt

Before thinking of engaging in corruption, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) officials should imagine themselves wearing yellow uniforms, having just P100 for their daily meals, and co-mingling with other Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) in jail.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed this Tuesday as he prodded the BIR and other government agencies to go into “reform mode.”

“I hope you can re-echo this to your personnel in the field. That’s a very good deterrent. Visualize someone wearing a yellow uniform co-mingled with Persons Deprived of Liberty. If you think of engaging in corruption, just imagine that and you will hold back,” Lacson told BIR officials who attended the Blue Ribbon Committee’s hearing on alleged corrupt practices in the agency, in a mix of English and Filipino.

“If you think of engaging in foolishness, think not just twice or thrice. Think at least 10 times,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson Naglatag ng Pampigil sa Tiwaling BIR Collectors, Sabay Tulak ang ‘Reform Mode’ sa Pamahalaan

Continue reading “Lacson Presents Deterrent for Corrupt BIR Collectors as He Pushes Reform Mode in Govt”

Posted on

Lacson to Detractors: Evidence, Not Noise, to Convict Those Behind Flood Control Mess

Evidence, and not noise, will indict and convict those involved in the corruption behind anomalous flood control projects, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed Monday.

At the resumption of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing into the issue, Lacson tore into “skeptics, detractors, and hijackers” for twisting public anger to divide the nation.

“Your noise will not silence the truth; neither does it provide any help in our investigation. Your noise cannot convict – and won’t even indict the malefactors in this flood control mess. Only evidence does,” he said.

“With all that being said – as the Chairman of this committee – I say to you: Shut the f… up!” Lacson said, referring to detractors of the committee’s work.

In Filipino: Lacson, Binalikan ang mga Nanggugulo: Ebidensiya, Hindi Ingay, ang Magpapakulong sa mga May Sala sa Flood Control Issue

Continue reading “Lacson to Detractors: Evidence, Not Noise, to Convict Those Behind Flood Control Mess”