Category: TV

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Lacson in ‘Sagasa Mode,’ Waiting for ‘Receipts’ on Flood Control Project Commissions to Senators

After confirming multimillion-peso budget insertions in 2023 and 2025 tied to Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is now waiting for “receipts” or proof of commissions they allegedly got from flood control projects.

Lacson said Friday that the “receipts” will aid in crafting stronger anti-corruption and accountability measures, as well as help the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and other prosecution bodies like the Ombudsman or Department of Justice.

In radio and TV interviews Friday morning, Lacson said he will ask Senate President Vicente Sotto III to allow ex-Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer Brice Hernandez to leave the Senate premises under escort, to produce these “receipts.” Hernandez had given details linking the two senators and a member of the House of Representatives to the insertions and claimed they got 30% commissions from flood control projects.

In Filipino: Lacson, ‘Sagasa Mode’ Na, Naghihintay ng ‘Resibo’ sa Flood Control Komisyon ng mga Senador

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Lacson Bares New ‘Per Page’ Moneymaking Scheme by Junior DPWH Personnel

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson exposed on Friday yet another moneymaking scheme at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), this time involving junior personnel who require contractors to submit documents priced at thousands of pesos per page.

Lacson said these additional “requirements” are imposed by the “juniors” at the District Engineering Office level are on top of the regular commissions and “obligations” contractors are made to pay.

“Corruption has become systemic where greed has evolved. Now they add requirements that cost money per page of bidding documents and material testing reports. Even individual pages of documentary requirements come at a price,” he said in Filipino in an interview on NET25.

In Filipino: Lacson: Binuking ang Bagong ‘Per Page’ Raket ng Junior DPWH Personnel

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Lacson: Senate Flood Control Probe to Continue Even with Independent Commission; Blindfold Mentality to be Guide

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson will maintain a “blindfold mentality” in presiding over the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s probe into the corruption behind anomalous flood control projects – even as he maintained there is no need to stop the Senate probe now that Malacanang has created an independent probe commission since they should complement each other.

Lacson stressed Friday that this mentality, which has always guided his investigations, means the committee will base its findings on evidence, and will spare no one – not even legislators or employees. The panel’s next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 18.

He added that the P355-million insertion in the 2025 budget, one of the subjects of the investigation, has brought to light the need to identify the proponents of amendments or insertions in crafting the budget. This transparency is one of the budget reforms Lacson has repeatedly fought for.

In Filipino: Lacson: Tuloy ang Senate Flood Control Probe Kahit na May Independent Commission; Blindfold Mentality ang Magiging Gabay

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Lacson Demolishes DPWH Secretary’s Claim that Ghost Projects in Bulacan an ‘Isolated Case’

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Friday demolished the claim of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan that the ghost flood control projects in Bulacan’s first engineering district are an isolated case.

Lacson said that in looking into the greed and corruption behind several defective and ghost flood control projects, he had his staff conduct case studies not only in Bulacan but also in Mindoro and other areas.

He also stressed that now is the time for the DPWH to conduct a full internal audit of its projects, starting with the flood control projects.

“When you say it is an isolated case, it sounds like a defense mechanism. It suggests you don’t intend to conduct a full-scale and comprehensive investigation. And I expected that, so I had my teams check projects in other areas,” he said in Filipino in an interview on True FM, when asked about the matter.

“I expected that ‘isolated case’ line and I can say this is not an isolated case. That is why we conducted case studies in Pampanga, Northern Luzon and other areas, just to debunk the claims that Bulacan is an isolated case,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Dinurog ang Pahayag ng DPWH Secretary na ‘Isolated Case’ ang Ghost Projects sa Bulacan

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Lacson: Transparency Efforts Could be Senate’s Key to Regaining Public Trust

Efforts to fight corruption and uphold transparency could be one of the keys for the Senate to recover from its low trust and performance ratings and to regain the public’s trust, anti-corruption advocate Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said.

Lacson said the Senate’s low ratings may have stemmed from factors including public perception of “pork” insertions by some senators, as well as the handling of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.

“It could have been a factor, rightly or wrongly. That is the public’s perception because that is what people see or read daily. It’s a combination of so many factors, so we must be careful,” he said in Filipino in an interview on One PH.

In Filipino: Lacson: Transparency Efforts Susi ng Senado sa Pagbawi sa Mababang Trust Ratings

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