Lacson: Senate Leadership Must Keep Institution a Model of Budget Transparency

The Senate’s current leadership must make sure the institution remains a model of transparency in crafting the national budget, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.

Lacson, a watchdog of the national coffers, made the call barely two months before the Executive submits to Congress the proposed budget for 2027 this July.

“Sa panahon ni Sen. Sherwin (Gatchalian) at saka ni Tito Sen (Sotto) as finance chairman and Senate President, papunta na kami doon. And I hope sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, ma-sustain ang ganoon (Under then Senate President Vicente Sotto III and finance committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian, we were getting there in terms of budget transparency. I hope under Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, this can be sustained),” Lacson said in an interview on DZRH radio.

“Kami na maging halimbawa na parang pagdating sa pagitan ng dalawang houses, kami na yung parang pinaka-Big Brother na tinintigalaan nila para sa pagbalangkas man lang ng national budget, maayos (The Senate should be the example and the Big Brother at least in the crafting of the national budget),” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Dapat Panatilihin ng Liderato ng Senado ang Institusyon bilang Modelo ng Budget Transparency

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Lacson Responds to Sen. Pia Cayetano’s Lament vs Minority Bloc

How can anyone check on the members of the majority bloc when they – or some of them – were busy trying to link the minority bloc to a shooting incident inside the Senate building last May 13?

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson thus responded Thursday to Sen. Pilar Juliana “Pia” Cayetano’s lament that none of her colleagues checked on her and fellow majority bloc members during the incident.

“Quote of the day: ‘Wala man lang nangumusta sa amin!’ Paano mo ba naman kukumustahin ang mga masasayang nagkakainan, nagkakape at naka FB Live pa para pagbintangan ang minority bloc na may alam daw sa putukan ng baril sa Senado?” he said in a post on X.

In Filipino: Lacson, Tumugon sa Lamentasyon ni Sen. Pia Cayetano Laban sa Minority Bloc

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Lacson Calls for Unabated Public Vigilance After Senate Convenes as Impeachment Court

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Tuesday called on the public to remain vigilant after the Senate convened as an impeachment court Monday for the case of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.

Lacson described the convening as a “breath of fresh air,” especially in contrast to last week’s tense events, including the “smell of gunpowder” from a shooting incident in the Senate building.

“The stark contrast between the smell of gunpowder last week and the breath of fresh air in the Senate yesterday was evident when we convened as an impeachment court after all the parliamentary procedures were strictly followed. May the public vigilance remain unabated,” he said in a post on X.

In Filipino: Lacson, Nanawagan ng Unli na Pagmamatyag ng Publiko Matapos Magtipon ang Senado Bilang Impeachment Court

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Lacson: Time for Senate to Do Right, Restore Dignity

After the Senate itself emerged as the biggest casualty of last Wednesday’s shooting incident, senators must now do what is right to restore its dignity, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Friday.

Lacson said a positive step forward is the Senate’s planned convening into an impeachment court for the case of Vice President Sara Duterte, adding irresponsible insinuations from some senators must end.

“We landed in the international news for the wrong reasons. It was ugly – the shooting in the Philippine Senate as breaking news. So it is time to recover. The word Senate stems from the word ‘senatus’ meaning wise, mature men. So moving forward, we must do what is right and not show immaturity that will worsen the situation,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on True FM.

“As senators we henceforth must self-reflect individually and collectively to perform our duty,” he added. “Moving forward, our focus should be to redeem the Senate from its present situation.”

In Filipino: Lacson: Oras na para Gawin ang Tama at Ibalik ang Dignidad ng Senado

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Lacson Cites Procedural Lapses in Senate Motions on Contempt, Rules Change

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Tuesday raised concerns over “procedurally infirm” motions made on the Senate floor shortly after the change of leadership in the chamber last Monday.

Lacson questioned the move to cite in contempt of the Senate the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents who pursued Sen. Ronald dela Rosa through the Senate hallways Monday – and a separate move to amend the Senate rules without referring it first to the Committee on Rules.

“Procedurally incorrect or infirm ang ating ginawa. Kaya ko lang pino-point out para i-correct lang natin ang ating sarili (What was done was procedurally incorrect or infirm. I am pointing it out so we can correct it in the future),” he said in his manifestation at Tuesday’s regular session.

In Filipino: Lacson, Tinukoy ang mga Procedural Lapses sa Senate Motions Ukol sa Contempt, Pagbabago ng mga Alituntunin

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