Lacson: Marcoleta, Defensor May Face Subornation of Perjury Complaint Over Guteza ‘Flip-Flop’

Detained Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and ex-Rep. Michael Defensor may face a complaint for subornation of perjury in connection with the “coached” testimony of ex-Marine Orly Guteza before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee last year, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.

Lacson said the sequence of events during the Blue Ribbon hearing showed Marcoleta prompting Guteza on what to say in Guteza’s affidavit concerning his alleged delivery of cash in suitcases to certain personalities including former Speaker Martin Romualdez.

“Kung titingnan natin ang ebidensya, takbo ng pangyayari, nangyari ito noong pagdinig ng BRC na maliwanag kino-coach ni Sen Marcoleta. So isa siya sa pwedeng kasuhan ng subornation of perjury (If you look at the evidence and the sequence of events, it was clear that during the Blue Ribbon hearing, Marcoleta was ‘coaching’ Guteza. So Marcoleta could be one of those facing a complaint for subornation of perjury),” Lacson said in an interview on DWIZ radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Marcoleta, Defensor Maaaring Humarap sa Reklamong Subornation of Perjury Kaugnay ng ‘Flip-Flop’ ni Guteza

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Lacson: Impeachment Trial Schedule May Move to Afternoon Starting September

The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio will likely be moved to the afternoon starting in September, Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.

Lacson said the prevailing sentiment among members of the Senate majority bloc is to maximize the time for the impeachment trial by holding legislative sessions in the morning and moving the trial to the afternoon and potentially extending it into the evening.

“At least in the majority group, this is the dominating sentiment. We will hold legislative sessions in the morning so the impeachment trial would not be cut short. It is a more practical setup,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DWIZ radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Impeachment Trial, Maaaring Ilipat sa Hapon Simula Setyembre

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Lacson: Ombudsman On Track in Taguig Reclamation and Flood Control Projects Investigation

The Office of the Ombudsman has issued subpoenas to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other government agencies for records related to illegal reclamation projects in the Taguig portion of Laguna Lake, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson said the Ombudsman’s fact-finding investigation is continuing, with his office providing additional documents and updates, while the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) has also submitted drone images of the reclamation sites.

“I believe nagpadala na ng subpoena ang Office of the Ombudsman sa DPWH duces tecum, kinukuha lahat na records sa Taguig. At ang PRA nagpadala na rin ng kanilang drone shots. Walong reclamation sites (I believe the Office of the Ombudsman has sent subpoena duces tecum to the DPWH for the records in the Taguig reclamation projects. The PRA has also sent its drone shots. There are eight reclamation sites),” he said in an interview on DZBB radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Ombudsman On Track sa Taguig Reclamation at Flood Control Projects Investigation

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Lacson: Civil Engineers’ Forensic Work Can Help Pinpoint Responsibility for Defective Infra Projects

Civil engineers and their forensic expertise can play a major role in establishing accountability not only for flood control projects but for other infrastructure such as roads and bridges, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson called on civil engineers’ associations to organize inspection teams that can examine roads, bridges and other infrastructure damaged by recent floods, and determine through forensic analysis whether the damage was due to structural design or implementation.

“Manawagan tayo sa association ng civil engineers, dapat siguro sila kumilos na mag-inspection. O kung may gumuho, magpapunta sila ng member doon kung may association sila, i-forensic nila ano kakulangan base sa kanilang kaalaman. Kung nagkulang sa structural design o implementation dapat habulin ang contractor (We can call on associations of civil engineers to help in the inspection of infrastructure, including those damaged by recent floods. They can use forensics to determine if the damage stemmed from faulty structural design or implementation),” he said in an interview on DZBB radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Forensic na Pagsusuri ng mga Civil Engineer, Makakatulong sa Pagtukoy sa Pananagutan sa mga Palpak na Infra Project

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Lacson: Flood Control Master Plan Must Survive Changes in Administration

Any flood control master plan being crafted must not only be technically comprehensive but also be designed to span multiple administrations, ensuring continuity despite changes in government, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed on Wednesday.

Lacson made the call after noting that the master plans of previous administrations were often discarded by the successors, leaving ordinary Filipinos to continue suffering from the effects of flooding.

“Dapat may continuity, multi-administration. Dapat nagko-cross ng administrations ang plano kung ito’y maayos. Pwede siguro mag modify, mag-adapt sa bagong sitwasyon sa pagbabago ng panahon, pero nandiyan ang basic master plan kung paano tutugunan ang problema ng pagbaha (There should be continuity and the master plan should be multi-administration in scope. It must be designed to cross administrations. Minor modifications can be made over time to adapt to new situations, but the core of the basic plan must remain),” he said in an interview on DZBB radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Flood Control Master Plan, Dapat May ‘Continuity’ at ‘Multi-Administration’

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