Statements

Lacson Sets Condition for ‘Early’ Senate Hearing on ‘Bikoy’ Claims
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Image courtesy: DZRH News

The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs may hold a hearing on the claims made by “Bikoy” as early as within this week, but only if he personally presents his sworn statement and evidence to support his accusations.

Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson, who chairs the panel, said this in a post on his Twitter account Tuesday, as he noted “Bikoy” has become a political – if not an election – issue.

Lacson indicated one of the goals of the hearing would be to bolster proposed legislation providing heavier penalties against perjury, especially before congressional investigations.

“Like it or not, Bikoy has become a political, if not an election issue. The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs can schedule a hearing this week on one condition: Bikoy must personally present a sworn statement and his evidence to support his accusations,” he said.

Related: Bikoy, Pagsasalitain na ng Senado
Continue reading “Lacson Sets Condition for ‘Early’ Senate Hearing on ‘Bikoy’ Claims” →

In the News, Radio, Statements

Interview on DZMM: Senate Hearing on Bikoy | May 7, 2019

In an interview on DZMM, Sen. Lacson lays down the condition for a possible Senate hearing on the claims made by ‘Bikoy.’

Quotes from the interview…
Continue reading “Interview on DZMM: Senate Hearing on Bikoy | May 7, 2019” →

Statements

On the Surfacing of ‘Bikoy’

Bikoy thumbnail

First, I certainly hope the Integrated Bar of the Philippines will give the same amount of attention and assistance to anybody seeking legal assistance. Otherwise, they might be misunderstood as engaging in political partisanship, which could punch a hole and deflate their credibility.

By their admission, they haven’t evaluated Bikoy’s accusations, yet they provided him their facility and a forum to air his accusations.

As far as the Senate, we will await his sworn statement and whatever supporting evidence he has, after which we will evaluate and proceed from there. If it merits a Senate inquiry, we definitely will conduct one to hear him and more, if any.

*****

In the News, Radio, Statements

Interview on DZBB: Bikoy Video, Chinese ‘Traders’ | May 5, 2019

In an interview on DZBB, Sen. Lacson answers questions on:
– calls for Senate investigation into the ‘Bikoy’ videos
– discernment on Chinese ‘investments’ in PH
– bribery at the Bureau of Immigration?
– May 13, 2019 elections as ‘referendum’ of PRRD leadership

Quotes from the interview…
 Continue reading “Interview on DZBB: Bikoy Video, Chinese ‘Traders’ | May 5, 2019” →

In the News, Radio, Statements

Interview on DZRH: Social Media, Gift or Curse? | May 3, 2019

In an interview on DZRH, Sen. Lacson answers questions on:
– gift or curse of social media
– advice to voters as the May 13 midterm elections draw closer
– Senate Bill 2219, which allows direct people’s participation in preparing the budget
– independence of the Senate in the 18th Congress

Quotes from the interview…
 Continue reading “Interview on DZRH: Social Media, Gift or Curse? | May 3, 2019” →

In the News, Statements, TV

Interview on ANC | May 2, 2019

In an interview on ANC, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– reported arrest of ‘person of interest’ in the uploading of ‘tunay na narco list’ video
– Senate Bill 2219, encouraging public participation in budgeting process
– PRRD’s taking up WPS issue with Chinese President Xi
– illegal Chinese workers and SMEs

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Quotes from the interview…
Continue reading “Interview on ANC | May 2, 2019” →

PingBills, Statements

Ping, Gumalaw Na Para Mabusisi Rin ng Publiko ang Pambansang Badyet
sb2219 Peoples Participation Bill
Senate Bill 2219 discourages ‘pork’ insertions by getting the public directly involved in the preparation of the national budget.

Mas maraming mata, mas madaling mabibisto ang tangkang pangungupit ng mga makakapal ang mukhang mambabatas na nais magpakasasa sa kaban ng bayan.

Ito ang pangunahing adhikain ng Senate Bill 2219 na inihain ni Senador Panfilo M. Lacson, na nagpapahintulot sa publiko na makapanood nang personal at makasali sa talakayan ng mga mambabatas sa pambansang badyet.

Layunin ng panukala na magkaroon ng karapatan ang publiko na malaman ang ginagawa ng mambabatas sa badyet mula sa komite ng Senado at Kamara hanggang sa bicameral conference committee.

“Now is the time for Congress to recognize the importance of the direct participation by people’s organizations and non-government organizations in the budget deliberation,” paliwanag ni Lacson sa kanyang panukala.

“We should institutionalize the practice of legislature-civil society collaboration in order to achieve a people-oriented budget as well as establish transparency and accountability in the budget process,” dagdag ng mambabatas.

Related: Stronger Safeguard vs Pork: Lacson Bill Encourages Public to Help Guard Budget Process
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PingBills, Statements

Stronger Safeguard vs Pork: Lacson Bill Encourages Public to Help Guard Budget Process
sb2219 Peoples Participation Bill
Senate Bill 2219 discourages ‘pork’ insertions by getting the public directly involved in the preparation of the national budget.

Taxpayers themselves will soon serve as the biggest safeguard against pork barrel being sneaked into the national budget, with a bill filed by Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson.

Senate Bill 2219 institutionalizes the direct participation of people’s organizations and non-government organizations in the preparation of the spending bill.

“Now is the time for Congress to recognize the importance of the direct participation by people’s organizations and non-government organizations in the budget deliberation,” Lacson said in his bill.

“We should institutionalize the practice of legislature-civil society collaboration in order to achieve a people-oriented budget as well as establish transparency and accountability in the budget process,” he added.

Related: Ping, Gumalaw Na Para Mabusisi Rin ng Publiko ang Pambansang Badyet
Continue reading “Stronger Safeguard vs Pork: Lacson Bill Encourages Public to Help Guard Budget Process” →

Statements

Ping: Hindi Dapat Kay Joma Lang Nakatutok ang Gobyerno sa Pakikipag-Usap sa Mga Rebelde
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Image: CTTO

Hindi dapat kay Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison nakatutok ang gobyerno sa pakikipagusap sa rebeldeng komunista upang makamit ng bansa ang napakatagal nang hangad na kapayapaan.

Idiniin ito ni Senador at dating Philippine National Police chief Panfilo Lacson matapos magpakita ng malinaw na indikasyon ang Malacanang ng muling pag-upo sa negotiating table sa usapang pangkapayapaan.

Kabilang sa mga positibong hakbang ng Malacanang ay ang pagbuo ng panel na makikipag-usap sa mga rebelde, partikular sa mga hindi nakikinig kay Sison.

Ayon kay Lacson, matagal na niyang isinusulong ang nabanggit na sistema kasama ang localized peace effort para direkta umanong makakakapagpalitan ng kondisyones ang magkabilang grupo.

“Such a move is long in coming. I have always believed that this is the better way to deal with the five-decade insurgency problem,” pagbubunyag ni Lacson.

Related: Lacson: High Time Gov’t Went Beyond Joma in Talking to Communist Rebs
Continue reading “Ping: Hindi Dapat Kay Joma Lang Nakatutok ang Gobyerno sa Pakikipag-Usap sa Mga Rebelde” →