Statements

Lacson Challenges Fellow Solons to Make Public Their Amendments to 2020 Budget

Instead of whispering proposed “amendments” to the 2020 national budget or scrawl them on napkins, why not post them online?

Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson issued this challenge to fellow lawmakers Tuesday, adding no less than such a show of transparency would dispel suspicions that the amendments are stained with pork.

“We should make everything public. That includes all amendments we submit, whether institutional or individual. We have our own websites, we should use them for this purpose, as I did for the 2019 budget,” Lacson, an avowed enemy of the pork barrel system, said in an interview on DZBB radio.

Related: Ping sa mga Mababatas: Para Kuwentas-Klaras, I-Post ‘Nyo Amendments ‘Nyo!
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In the News, Radio, Statements

Interview on DZBB: Dapat Isapubliko! Push for Transparency in the 2020 Budget | Nov. 5, 2019

In an interview on DZBB, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– need for transparency in crafting the 2020 budget
– curbing pork amid growing national debt
– making enemies while fighting pork in the budget

QUOTES and NOTES:
Continue reading “Interview on DZBB: Dapat Isapubliko! Push for Transparency in the 2020 Budget | Nov. 5, 2019” →

In the News, Statements, Videos

#PingSays: ‘Pork’ na Parked Funds sa 2020 Budget? | Nov. 4, 2019

In an interview, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– potentially problematic items in the 2020 budget
– P20B lump sum in the proposed budget

QUOTES and NOTES:
Continue reading “#PingSays: ‘Pork’ na Parked Funds sa 2020 Budget? | Nov. 4, 2019” →

In the News, Radio, Statements

Interview on DZBB: Walang ‘Pork’ sa 2020 Budget sa Unang Tingin? | Nov. 3, 2019

In an interview on DZBB, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– thwarting possible attempts to insert pork in the P4.1-trillion proposed 2020 budget via bicam
– ‘most behaved’ House with P9.5B institutional amendments in the budget bill
– release of funds to address recent calamities

QUOTES and NOTES:
 Continue reading “Interview on DZBB: Walang ‘Pork’ sa 2020 Budget sa Unang Tingin? | Nov. 3, 2019” →

Statements

On ‘Extraordinary Powers’ for the President vs Water Crisis

Given a looming if not already existing water crisis, under Sec. 17, Art VII of the 1987 Constitution and existing jurisprudence (David vs Arroyo, GR No 171396 on May 3, 2006), Congress may delegate to the President the power of the state to take over the operation of public utilities.

However, the President has to declare an emergency, and if Congress delegates that power to him, the government must be ready to compensate whatever losses the private concessionaire/s would incur during the period of the government takeover.

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Statements

On the President’s Offer/Challenge to the VP to Handle the Anti-Drug Campaign

Only the President can wield sufficient authority and power over our law enforcement officials. Unless he delegates a blanket authority, including the power to hire and fire, no one else in the government bureaucracy can do it better than the Chief Executive under any other given circumstances.

Having said that, the President is easily peeved when his administration’s top priorities – such as eliminating illegal drugs and corruption, which he used as his campaign platform – become the subject of criticisms.

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Statements

On the Appointment of Diosdado Peralta as Chief Justice
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Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta. Image courtesy: SC website

The President couldn’t have chosen a better qualified Chief Justice. Chief Justice Peralta is backed by a wealth of judicial experience, having started his career as a prosecutor, then as RTC judge, Sandiganbayan presiding justice and a Senior Associate Justice of the Court for more than a decade.

He is known for his integrity and competence, and one who enjoys the respect of his peers and others inside and outside the legal circle. I have known him all the way back when he was QC RTC judge who convicted almost if not all the KFR (kidnapping-for-ransom) suspects I apprehended when I was still in the law-enforcement service.

Many of the legal opinions that I – being a non-lawyer – have expressed during our committee hearings and plenary debates are in consultation with Justice Peralta. That is why I feel extremely confident when I manifest such opinions.

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Statements

On the Passing of Senator Aquilino ‘Nene’ Pimentel, Jr.

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I will always remember Sen. Nene as my first Senate minority leader who called my attention to respond to the massive vitriolic attacks on my honor and dignity as a newly elected senator in 2001.

That was my first baptism of dirty politics as the newly installed administration under then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo unleashed Angelo ‘Ador’ Mawanay and several other peddlers of lies and black propaganda to portray me as the biggest narco-politician, money launderer and criminal offender that ever set foot in the halls of Congress.

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Photos

AT WORK: At the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s 141st Assembly in Serbia

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Sen. Lacson is part of the Philippine delegation that participated in the 141st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and related meetings in Belgrade, Serbia. Other members of the Philippine delegation include Senate President Tito Sotto, Ralph Recto, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Franklin Drilon, Imee Marcos, Nancy Binay, Sherwin Gatchalian, Bato dela Rosa, Joel Villanueva and Sonny Angara; and Reps. Ferdinand Hernandez and Carlos Zarate.

MORE NOTES:
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Statements

On Gen. Albayalde’s Stepping Down as PNP Chief

I have mixed feelings about the way P/Gen. Oscar Albayalde, now ex-Chief PNP, has abruptly ended his police service more than three weeks before his compulsory retirement. His statements prior to his formal announcement today to relinquish command of the 190,000-strong police force have somehow diminished the redeeming value of his intent to spare the PNP from the so-called ‘ninja cops’ controversies.

Being a PMA graduate myself, I feel sad whenever fellow Peemayers slug it out publicly over issues that hit the very core of the unique and exclusive cadet honor system which has nurtured us for four arduous years to prepare ourselves to resist the moral challenges and temptations once we step out of the Academy.

Continue reading “On Gen. Albayalde’s Stepping Down as PNP Chief” →