Category: Hearings/Investigations

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Lacson Calls for End to Political Abuse of DSWD’s Ayuda Programs

After being abused in past election years, it’s high time the ayuda programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development be freed from the malpractices of politicians starting in 2026, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Monday.

Lacson stressed that DSWD personnel should be allowed to implement ayuda programs without politicians’ interference so such programs will not be turned into a matter of patronage politics.

In his interpellation of the DSWD’s 2026 budget, Lacson also commended the Senate finance committee and subcommittee for bringing down to zero the budget for Strengthening Assistance for Social Programs, which would have gotten funding from unprogrammed appropriations.

“We must fix the DSWD’s budget. I’m all for helping the needy but this should be data-driven and there should be a clear program. It should not be whimsical, arbitrary and politically motivated,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English, in his interpellation of the DSWD’s 2026 budget.

“I talked to Senate finance committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian and we agreed it’s about time we streamline the DSWD’s budget because it is being abused,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Itigil ang Political Abuse sa Ayuda Programs ng DSWD

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Blue Ribbon Committee Hearing on Flood Control Projects (Nov. 14, 2025)

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson’s Opening Statement at the Hearing:

Before we proceed to the substantive discussions, the Committee will deal first with some administrative matters for the record:

All members of the House of Representatives implicated by the Discaya spouses, as well as Cong. Martin Romualdez and Cong. Eric Yap cited by Mr. Orly Guteza, were invited to attend this hearing. Incumbent Congressmen were invited through a letter dated 12 November 2025 to Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy of the House of Representatives.

According to Speaker Dy, the members will not be appearing before the Committee today in order to avoid any possible prejudice to the ongoing investigation and eventual findings of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), given that the invited members have already submitted themselves to its jurisdiction and proceedings.

Mr. Zaldy Co was similarly invited to appear before this Committee—however, his lawyer, Atty. Ruy Alberto Rondain, replied that Mr. Co is unable to attend, citing that he is still overseas due to medical reasons.

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More Names Named: Hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Flood Control Projects

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee resumed on Sept. 25, 2025 its hearing on the corruption behind substandard and ghost flood control projects.

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Lacson Grills DPWH on ‘Leadership Fund’: Why Let Lawmakers Tinker with NEP?

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Tuesday questioned the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)’s so-called “Leadership Fund,” which he said allowed lawmakers to tinker with the National Expenditure Program (NEP).

Lacson learned about the fund while grilling ex-DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s hearing on anomalous flood control projects.

During the hearing, Lacson had asked how ex-DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo could download hundreds of millions of pesos worth of projects sourced from the NEP, or the budget proposal prepared by the executive branch, to the Bulacan First District Engineering Office under now-sacked district engineer Henry Alcantara.

“The NEP is the President’s budget proposal to be transmitted to the House and eventually to the Senate. Why are there insertions in the NEP? That I cannot really understand for the life of me,” Lacson told Bonoan in a mix of English and Filipino at the hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee on anomalous flood control projects.

In Filipino: Lacson, Binanatan ang ‘Leadership Fund’ ng DPWH: Bakit Pinapayagang Sumawsaw ang mga Mambabatas sa NEP?

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Names Named: Hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Flood Control Projects

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee resumes its hearings on the corruption behind substandard and ghost flood control projects.

Continue reading “Names Named: Hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Flood Control Projects”