In an interview, Sen. Lacson answers questions on the House of Representatives’ efforts to go at Charter change alone.
Quotes from the interview… Continue reading “#PingSays: Will the House’s efforts to force Charter change put the Comelec in trouble? | Jan. 23, 2018”
Hindi man matuloy ang Charter Change, siguradong makakamit pa rin ang mithiin na isinusulong ng Duterte administration sa ilalim ng pederalismo, sa pamamagitan ng panukala ni Senador Panfilo Lacson.
Nakapaloob na kasi sa Senate Bill 40 na tinaguriang Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment (BRAVE) at isinulong ni Lacson kasabay ng pagbukas ng kasalukuyang Kongreso ang halos lahat ng mithiin ng pederalismo.
🔈Pakinggan ang paliwanag ni Sen. Lacson sa BRAVE
Pangunahing nilalaman ng BRAVE bill ni Lacson ang direktang pagbibigay ng pondo sa mga lokal na pamahalaan upang mapondohan ng mga ito ang mga proyektong kailangan nila base sa personal na obserbasyon sa mga nasasakupan.
Related: Lacson: BRAVE to meet federalism goals without need to amend the Constitution
Continue reading “Lacson, May Mala-Pederalismo na Panukala na Walang Cha-Cha”
For their own sake, they should not allow themselves to look pathetic and worse, ridiculous. Having said that, they should read the 1987 Constitution in its entirety, or at the very least, Art XVII, Sec. 1 (Amendments or Revisions) in relation to Art VI Sec. 1 (Legislative Department) that explicitly refers to “the Congress” as the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Interpreting “the Congress” under Art XVII to refer to one chamber only is at best, self-serving. They pride themselves as lawyers in good standing but it only takes a layman who knows how to read and understand simple words and literature in order to appreciate what is right and wrong.
As for questioning the House’s move before the Supreme Court, there is need, and we will not. They can propose amendments or revision all they want but at the end of the day, a plebiscite would necessitate an item in the General Appropriations Act to be appropriated for the Commission on Elections to conduct such plebiscite.
Without the Senate, how can such appropriation materialize?
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Under Art. VI, Sec. 1 of the 1987 Constitution: “The legislative power shall be vested in the Congress of the Philippines which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives…”
Related: Senators close ranks, won’t attend joint session without authorization
The goals of federalism can still be met without the need to spend much time and resources to amend or revise the 1987 Constitution, if Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson’s Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment (BRAVE) bill is passed into law.
Lacson said the BRAVE bill, which is similar to federalism as it empowers local government units by giving them funding for their development projects, even gained the support of Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr.
“Parang federalism yan dahil ibababa ang karamihan ng pondo o malaking bahagi ng pondo ng national government, ilalatag papunta sa kanayunan sa probinsya nang sa ganoon matuto sila mag-develop on their own,” Lacson said in an interview on DZBB on Sunday.
🔈Listen to Sen. Lacson’s explanation of BRAVE
“Kung ito halimbawa ma-approve sa House of Representatives at Senado at ma-bicameral, ma-approve ito maging batas, masasabatas ang pagkalat ng pondo sa mga probinsya,” he added.
Related: Lacson may mala-pederalismo na panukala na walang Cha-Cha
Continue reading “Lacson: BRAVE to Meet Federalism Goals Without Need to Amend the Constitution”
In an interview on DZBB, Sen. Lacson answers questions on:
– BRAVE bill as alternative measure to empower LGUs if Charter change cannot push through
– Senate unity on Charter change issue
– removal of height requirement in the PNP
Related:
Lacson files LGU-empowering budget reform bill to achieve inclusive growth
LGU, direktang dadaluyan ng pondo sa panukala ni Ping
Quotes from the interview… Continue reading “Interview on DZBB | Jan. 21, 2018”
Under Sen. Lacson’s leadership from 1999 to 2001, the Philippine National Police got high marks not only for bringing down criminality, but also for regaining public trust. One factor was a physical fitness program that required police personnel to maintain a waistline of 34 inches or less.
Related:
Height no longer a requirement for police aspirants (PNA)
Half the battle is won kung ang members ng pulis, DISIPLINADO.
Read: Senate Bill 1544, providing for the modernization of the PNP
Lacson bill to restore subpoena powers to PNP-CIU/CIDG
Such conversion shall ensure the provision of its own regular permanent personnel, modern equipment, and the necessary funding for its personnel services, maintenance and other operating expenses.
At the Senate hearing on Charter change on Jan. 17, former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. congratulated Sen. Lacson for filing Senate Resolution 580:
“I would like to commend and congratulate you for filing that resolution, for the Senate now to act on proposing or initiating an amendment to the Constitution as a separate institutional body independent and coordinate with the Lower House. (The) proposal in the Lower House may reach its goal by riding on a bullet train, it could be the second train in the Lower House faster as expected because you have in the Lower House a super majority. And I don’t think with that composition of the Lower House now will be an objective deliberation. You can even say it is a done deal in the Lower House.
In the Senate, with that resolution, you can put a brake to any attempt to railroad a proposal to amend the Constitution.“
Related:
Senate Resolution 580, constituting the Senate into a constituent assembly
Senate Resolution 580 gains support in the Senate
On the higher level of discourse at the Senate hearing on Charter change
In an interview, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– senators agreeing not to attend a joint session for Charter change without assurance the Senate and House will vote separately
– possible expulsion of senators who attend a joint session without authorization
– constitutional convention or constituent assembly?
Quotes from the interview… Continue reading “#PingSays: Senators close ranks, won’t attend ConAss joint session without proper assurances | Jan. 17, 2018”
At the Senate hearing discussing moves to amend the Constitution, Sen. Lacson was congratulated by former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. for Senate Resolution 580, which lets the Senate act on proposing or initiating an amendment to the Constitution “as a separate institutional body independent” of the Lower House.
Quotes from the hearing… Continue reading “At the Senate Hearing Discussing Moves to Amend the Constitution”
In an interview, Sen. Lacson answers questions on:
– changing the Constitution’s provisions on term limits
– support for Senate Resolution 580
Related:
Read: Senate Resolution 580, constituting the Senate into a constituent assembly
Senate Resolution 580 gains support
Quotes from the interview… Continue reading “#PingSays: On Charter change moves in the Senate and House | Jan. 16, 2018”
At the Senate’s regular session, some colleagues asked to be co-authors of Sen. Lacson’s Senate Resolution 580, which seeks to have the Senate convene into a constituent assembly to tackle proposed changes to the Constitution. These include Senators Tito Sotto, Gringo Honasan, Grace Poe, and Migz Zubiri.
Senate Resolution 580 calls for the constitution of the Senate of the Philippines into a constituent assembly to propose amendments to – or revision of – the Constitution, and upon approval of 3/4 vote of its members adopt the same.
In an interview on DWIZ, Sen. Lacson answers questions on:
– Constituent assembly
– Prospective timetable for amending the Constitution
Quotes from the interview… Continue reading “Interview on DWIZ | Jan. 13, 2018”
At the Kapihan sa Senado forum, Sen. Lacson answers questions on:
– Charter change
– death penalty legislation
– effects of TRAIN
– alleged irregularities in PCSO
– allegations of CPP/NPA plotting to overthrow government
Quotes from the interview…
Continue reading “Kapihan sa Senado forum | Jan. 11, 2018”
Senate Bill 258, which increases protection and benefits for whistleblowers, is pending before the Senate Committees on Justice and Human Rights; and Finance.
Related:
Lacson bill offers big rewards for whistleblowers in corruption cases
Hanggang P5M pabuya sa testigo vs korapsyon
Senate Bill 1638 strengthens the Office of the Ombudsman by establishing a retirement benefit system for the Ombudsman, his/her deputies, the special prosecutor and other officials and employees performing legal, prosecution, investigation and corruption prevention functions. It also seeks to augment employees’ benefits.
“Given the indispensable role of the Office of the Ombudsman in the eradication of graft and corruption, it is only but fitting to provide them with a competitive retirement scheme commensurate and comparable to other officials and employees in government performing equally vital functions.”
Senate Resolution 577 calls for an inquiry in aid of legislation into the recent controversies surrounding the PCSO.
Senate Bill 982 seeks to shorten transactions with government to 7 days or less.
The opposition need not invent the best antidote to Charter change. No less than the two leaders of both houses of Congress have started campaigning against it, albeit subliminally.
Floating a no-el and term extension scenario, as recent history would suggest, won’t help their advocacy to shift to a federal form of government, inevitably via an amendment of the Constitution.
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Senate Bill 233, which seeks to ease the requirements for cityhood, is pending before the Committee on Local Government. The bill eases requirements for municipalities to be upgraded to cities.
Senate Bill 1210, the Expanded Anti-Wiretapping Act of 2016, is now pending second reading. The bill has taken into account Sen. Lacson’s Senate Bill 48, which seeks to update the present anti-wiretapping law.
Related:
Read: Senate Bill 1210, the Expanded Anti-Wiretapping Act
Lacson bill seeks to allow wiretaps vs coups, money-laundering, drug cases
Lacson bill: Wire tap vs drug lords, money launderers, mutineers papayagan
Senate Bill 255 is pending before the Committees on Local Government and Finance. It upgrades the benefits of tanods who rendered at least one year of service in the barangay government.
Senate Bill 252 is now pending before the Committees on Public Services; and Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship. The bill seeks to regulate the sale of prepaid SIM cards to curb criminality.
Senate Bill 259 is pending before the Committees on National Defense and Security; Education, Arts and Culture; and Finance. The bill seeks to level the playing field to join Air Force with a PAF Academy.
Duopoly or national security?
“Sa sinubmit ng DPWH na list of claimants sa right-of-way projects, may nakita naman kami na ang mga claimants either Unknown or John Doe. May corresponding amounts doon, may P11 million, may hundreds of thousands. Ang tanong doon: Paano babayaran ng gobyerno si John Doe? Papaano babayaran ng gobyerno si Unknown?
“Na-restore lahat yan. On top of that, nadagdagan pa ng P11 billion… Kani-kanino pong mga projects yan?”
Related:
‘Kani-kanino pong mga projects yan?’
Sa mga tinamaan, pasensya na. Trabaho lang
In an interview, Sen. Lacson answers questions on:
– the reported appointment of PNP chief dela Rosa to the BuCor upon his retirement
– House bill providing discounts on political ads
Quotes from the interview… Continue reading “#PingSays: On ‘Bato’ dela Rosa heading the BuCor and possible discounts on political ads | Dec. 13, 2017”
Sen. Lacson says that with the one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao, security forces there will be more wary of committing possible abuses.
Quotes from the interview… Continue reading “#PingSays: On the 1-year extension of martial law in Mindanao | Dec. 13, 2017”
From the Inquirer: Senator Panfilo Lacson questioned on Tuesday the P11-billion raise given to the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) next year as approved in the bicameral conference committee.
Continue reading “Lacson questions budget raise given to DPWH next year [Inquirer]”
Sen. Lacson attended the special joint session of Congress on Dec. 13, 2017, where senators voted 14-4 in favor of extending martial law over Mindanao until Dec. 31, 2018.
More photos… Continue reading “At the Joint Session of Congress to Take Up the Extension of Martial Law in Mindanao”
“When I introduced my amendments, nabawasan (sa) P598 billion ang Senate version (ng DPWH budget for 2018). Na-restore lahat yan. On top of that, nadagdagan pa ng P11 billion… Kani-kanino pong mga projects yan, Mr. (Senate) President?” – Sen. Lacson at the Senate session tackling the bicameral conference committee report on the 2018 budget
Former Philippine National Police chief and now Senator Panfilo Lacson received support for his efforts to increase the benefits and pension for active and retired uniformed personnel from fellow former PNP chief Edgardo Aglipay. Lacson led the PNP from 1999 to 2001, while Aglipay served as PNP chief from 2004 to 2005. Both are members of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1971.
In media interviews, Sen. Lacson answers questions on:
– security briefing at the Senate
– possible martial law extension in Mindanao
– proposed 2018 budget
Quotes from the interviews… Continue reading “#PingSays: On the 2018 budget and possible martial law extension in Mindanao | Dec. 12, 2017”
In an interview, Sen. Lacson answers questions on:
– the hearing on ROW issues in General Santos City
– possible extension of martial law in Mindanao
Quotes from the interview… Continue reading “#PingSays: Possible martial law extension in Mindanao, Joint Session, Syndicate in the DPWH | Dec. 11, 2017”
“We should bust that syndicate not only outside DPWH but inside as well. Helpless ang sa kabilang side ng sindikato kung walang contact sa loob ng DPWH.” – Sen. Lacson at the Dec. 11 Senate hearing on ROW claims in General Santos City
Watch: Sen. Lacson at the hearing on alleged anomalies involving ROW projects in General Santos City [2 parts]… Continue reading “#PingSays: Committee hearing on alleged misuse of public funds for road right-of-way project in General Santos City | Dec. 11, 2017”
