At the Kapihan sa Senado forum, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– birthday wish and ‘grade’ for President Duterte
– former police Col. Acierto
– war on drugs and DDB survey
– whether the P3.757-trillion 2019 budget will be pork-free
– Ayalas’ apology amid recent NCR water crisis
– preferences for the May 2019 elections
Quotes from the interview…
Continue reading “Kapihan sa Senado forum | March 28, 2019”
In an interview on DZMM, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– the end to the impasse on the 2019 budget
– claims of former cop Eduardo Acierto
Quotes from the interview…
Continue reading “Interview on DZMM | March 26, 2019”
Sen. Lacson joins colleagues in explaining their proposed solution to end the 2019 budget impasse. Sen. Lacson also answered questions on:
– Manila Water’s decision to waive fees over water supply row
– Chico River loan agreement
– claims of former policeman Eduardo Acierto
Quotes from the interview…
Continue reading “Finally! End to the 2019 Budget Impasse | March 26, 2019”
Para sa lahat ng mga mambabatas na ganid at walang kabusugan sa paghamig ng pork barrel sa ginalaw pa na niratipikahan nang 2019 national budget ang vendetta ni Senador Panfilo Lacson.
Ito ang nilinaw ng senador bilang tugon sa tila sirang plaka na akusasyon ng mga kongresistang kaalyado ni House Speaker at nakulong sa katiwalian na dating Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Si Lacson ay ilang beses na inakusahan ng mga talking heads ni Arroyo na umano’y vendetta o paghihiganti sa lider ng Kamara ang tunay na mithiin ng mambabatas sa pagkuwestiyon sa ginalaw na niratipikahang 2019 national budget.
“Sa mga konggresista na paulit-ulit sa pagsasabi na ‘vendetta’ ang aking motibo sa pag atake sa pork barrel nila sa 2019 pambansang badyet – tama po kayo, sukdulang galit na vendetta ko nga ‘yan sa mga katulad ninyong ganid at walang kabusugan sa pera ng mamamayang Pilipino,” tuwirang pahayag ni Lacson sa kanyang Twitter account.
Related: Lacson: My ‘Vendetta’ is Against the Insatiably Greedy Politicians
Continue reading “Mensahe ni Ping: Vendetta Ba? Para sa Lahat ng Ganid Yan!”
My “vendetta” is against the insatiably greedy politicians, especially those who lust after pork barrel funds.
This was Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson’s reply to some House of Representatives members who continue to accuse him of “vendetta” in denouncing pork in the 2019 budget.
“Sa mga konggresista na paulit ulit sa pagsasabi na ‘vendetta’ ang aking motibo sa pag atake sa pork barrel nila sa 2019 pambansang badyet – tama po kayo, sukdulang galit na vendetta ko nga ‘yan sa mga katulad ninyong ganid at walang kabusugan sa pera ng mamamayang Pilipino (To the congressmen who continue to claim vendetta is my motive in attacking the pork in the 2019 budget, you are right. But my vendetta is against the insatiably greedy politicians),” Lacson said in a post on his Twitter account.
Related: Mensahe ni Ping: Vendetta Ba? Para sa Lahat ng Ganid Yan!
Continue reading “Lacson: My ‘Vendetta’ is Against the Insatiably Greedy Politicians”
In an interview at the sidelines of the groundbreaking of the new Senate building, Sen. Lacson discloses the House has agreed to recall its version of the 2019 budget with post-ratification tweaks. Other topics in the interview included:
* Rep Andaya accusation that Senate removed P17B from the DPWH RROW budget
* timeline for the New Senate building
Quotes from the interview…
Continue reading “#PingSays: House ‘blinks’ on budget row | March 18, 2019”
Nililito ng liderato ng Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso ang publiko gamit ang paiba-ibang palusot ng mga kaalyado nito upang maitago ang ginawang pagkalikot sa P3.757-trilyon 2019 budget kahit matapos na ito ratipikahan, pero lalo lamang silang nabubuking.
Ayon kay Senador Panfilo Lacson, kahit pa gumamit ng sangkaterbang “talking heads,” hindi maitatago ng liderato ng Kamara ang ginawang pagkalikot sa mga pondong nakapaloob sa pambansang badyet.
Binanggit pa ni Lacson na hindi uubra ang palusot na isa lamang umanong “itemization” ang ginawa ng mga kaalyado ni Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sa budget dahil maliwanag na maliwanag na realignment ng pondo ang ginawa ng mga kaalyado ni Arroyo.
“National budget: Don’t be fooled by congressmen tasked to make us believe they merely ‘itemized’ when in fact, they arbitrarily realigned to favored districts several appropriations already approved by both houses of Congress thereby sacrificing already vetted infra projects,” pagsisiwala ni Lacson sa pamamagitan ng kanyang Twitter account.
Related: Lacson: House’s Post-Ratification Realignments in 2019 Budget Bill Make Talking Heads’ ‘Transparency’ Claims Worthless
Continue reading “Ping: Publiko, Nililito na ng House Leadership para Maipuslit ang Pork Barrel”
It’s bad enough that the House of Representatives leadership realigned a whopping P95.1 billion in the P3.757-trillion proposed budget for 2019 to favored districts. It’s much more revolting that they tried to hide it by invoking “transparency.”
On this note, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson scored the House’s “talking heads” for insisting that the maneuvering in the budget – after it had already been ratified by both houses of Congress – was for “itemization.”
“National budget: Don’t be fooled by congressmen tasked to make us believe they merely ‘itemized’ when in fact, they arbitrarily realigned to favored districts several appropriations already approved by both houses of Congress thereby sacrificing already vetted infra projects,” Lacson said in a post on his Twitter account.
“Trying to hide their unconstitutional post-ratification budget realignments by claiming they wanted to itemize lump sums in the name of transparency: If that’s not irony – or hypocrisy, I don’t know what is,” he added.
Related: Ping: Publiko, Nililito na ng House Leadership para Maipuslit ang Pork Barrel
Continue reading “Lacson: House’s Post-Ratification Realignments in 2019 Budget Bill Make Talking Heads’ ‘Transparency’ Claims Worthless”
They are confusing the public. There is a whale of a difference between itemization and realignments of what have been approved by the joint bicameral conference committee and ratified in plenary by both houses of Congress.
Instead of engaging in obfuscation and personal attacks on us by their designated talking heads, the House leaders should pursue a sensible dialogue with the Senate leadership.
Otherwise, we will have no choice but deal with the next House leadership come July.
*****
To The Manila Times: Please allow us to set the record straight and disabuse the minds of your readers regarding the column of Mr. Rolly G. Reyes last March 7 where he made personal attacks against Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson – including his claim that the senator’s disclosures on pork barrel are due to a supposed fixation on Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Continue reading “Letter to the Editor: On Senator Lacson’s alleged ‘fixation’ [Manila Times]”
In interviews with CNN Philippines and with Senate media, Sen. Lacson narrates what happened during lawmakers’ meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte on the 2019 budget on March 12.
Quotes from the interview…
Continue reading “Interviews: Meeting with the President on the 2019 Budget | March 13, 2019”
Not true. Instead, my suggestion didn’t sit well with the congressmen.
Executive Secretary Medialdea and Finance Secretary Dominguez in fact favorably endorsed my suggestion to President Rodrigo Duterte as a practical and logical approach to break the impasse, especially when I informed the President about the House of Representatives substantially slashing the P72.319-billion DPWH appropriations for the agency’s MFO1 and MFO2 (Major Final Output), which will have negative implications on the government’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ program.
What was obvious last night is that the suggestion didn’t sit well with the congressmen because they cannot be sure if all their realignments will be adopted. It’s all about their pork, not mindful if they will be derailing the flagship projects of the government.
*****
Mismong ang Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang naglabas ng mensahe na hindi niya lalagdaan kung may nilalaman na ilegal ang 2019 national budget, kaya dapat na maramdaman na ito ng liderato ng Kamara.
Ayon kay Senador Panfio Lacson, kung talagang bukal sa kalooban ng liderato ng Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso ang sinasabi nitong pagsuporta sa legislative agenda ng Pangulo, dapat sumunod ito sa ninanais ng huli.
Una nang binanggit ng Pangulong Duterte na hindi niya pipirmahan ang pambansang badyet kapag nakitaan niya ito ng ilegal na nilalaman, oras na makarating sa Malacanang matapos na umano’y kalikutin pa ng Kamara kahit aprubado na at naratipikahan.
“He is correct. What I can’t understand is why the House leadership cannot take the hint from President Duterte himself,” pahayag ni Lacson matapos na mabatid ang mensahe ng Presidente.
Related: Lacson to House Leadership: Take Cue from President on 2019 Budget
Continue reading “Ping sa Pagkalikot ni Gloria sa Bicam-Approved Budget: Nagsabi na si PRRD, ‘Di Niya Pipirmahan ang Ilegal”
If the House of Representatives’ leadership is indeed supportive of the administration’s legislative agenda, it should take a hint from President Rodrigo Duterte in not signing an illegal budget.
Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson stressed this Tuesday as he said Mr. Duterte is correct in “not signing anything that would be an illegal document.”
“He (the President) is correct. What I can’t understand is why the House leadership cannot take the hint from President Duterte himself,” Lacson said.
Related: Ping sa Pagkalikot ni Gloria sa Bicam-Approved Budget: Nagsabi na si PRRD, ‘Di Niya Pipirmahan ang Ilegal
Continue reading “Lacson to House Leadership: Take Cue from President on 2019 Budget”
On Rep. Andaya’s Claims of Senate Realignments in the Budget:
There is nothing new in what Rep. Andaya said. The P75 billion he is referring to was taken up during the interpellation in the Senate. That was the amount inserted by then DBM Secretary Benjamin Diokno in the DPWH budget, and which was slashed after the DPWH said it was not aware of it.
The P23 billion – not P25 billion as Rep. Andaya claimed – refers to the individual amendments of some senators, which I exposed.
I am not aware of any single senator who has made changes to the budget, after it was approved in the bicameral conference level. If Rep. Andaya can provide more details, such as the text message from a certain Ms. Salamanca, I will join him in denouncing such practice because it is not only in violation of the legislative process, but in violation of the Constitution itself.
On Rep. Bravo’s Claims of ‘Vendetta’
Rep. Bravo’s opinion reflects his true character.
I am a forgiving person. I have forgiven those who have wronged me.
This is not about Speaker Arroyo. This is not about any congressman or senator. This is about my personal crusade against the pork barrel system. This is about the national budget, which is the lifeblood of our country.
Continue reading “On the Claims of Reps. Andaya and Bravo on the 2019 Budget”
In an interview on DZBB, Sen. Lacson discloses how a whopping P95 billion of the DPWH’s 2019 budget was manipulated for pork. Other topics in the interview:
– Senate’s stand on not signing the ‘manipulated’ budget bill
– investigation of former PCSO GM Balutan
“Sabihin ko na tahasan. Ginulo ng House of Representatives kasi ayaw nila sumunod sa Constitution. Ayaw nila sumunod sa legislative process na tama. Sa ngalan ng pork barrel.”
Other quotes from the interview…
Continue reading “Interview on DZBB: ‘…Sa ngalan ng pork barrel’ | March 10, 2019”
In an interview on DWIZ, Sen. Lacson answers questions on the delay in the passage of the P3.757-trillion budget for 2019, including the following issues:
– presidential line-veto of the 2019 budget
– need for sanctions on violations of SC rulings
– possible stalemate on the budget
Quotes from the interview… Continue reading “Interview on DWIZ | March 9, 2019”
Makakatulog na nang mahimbing sa gabi si Senador Panfilo Lacson kung ang pag-uusapan ay ang pagbabantay niya sa kaban ng bayan laban sa mga wala sa lugar na paggastos at paghahangad ng mga kasamahan na kumupit sa pondong ito.
Nararamdaman na kasi ng mambabatas na nagiging epektibo na ang naumpisahang krusada laban sa pag-abuso ng mga kasamahan sa pambansang gastusin ng pamahalaan dahil sa katakawan sa pork barrel.
Ayon kay Lacson, bilang isang mambabatas ay kabilang sa kanyang sinumpaang obligasyon sa publiko ay ang mahigpit na bantayan laban sa pang-aabuso ang taunang gastusin ng pamahalaan.
“If by exposing all attempts by some lawmakers to go around the Supreme Court ruling declaring pork as unconstitutional, thus stymieing the selfish interests of those elected to perform their legislative duty, I’ll be able to sleep soundly at night knowing that I’ve done my share in guarding against unnecessary wastage of public funds that has prevented our country from taking off and become competitive,” pahayag ni Lacson.
Related: Lacson: Exposing Attempts to Sneak Pork into Budget Part of Patriotic Duty
Continue reading “Ping sa Pork: Makakatulog na Ako nang Mahimbing, Nabantayan Ko ang Badyet”
Exposing attempts to sneak “pork” into the national budget is part of a patriotic duty to ensure good governance through the proper spending of Filipino taxpayers’ money, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said.
Lacson said that as a lawmaker, it is his job to thwart attempts by some solons to circumvent the Supreme Court’s 2013 ruling declaring “pork” as unconstitutional, lest public money is lost to corruption and incompetence.
“If by exposing all attempts by some lawmakers to go around the Supreme Court ruling declaring pork as unconstitutional, thus stymieing the selfish interests of those elected to perform their legislative duty, I’ll be able to sleep soundly at night knowing that I’ve done my share in guarding against unnecessary wastage of public funds that has prevented our country from taking off and become competitive,” he said.
“My critics would claim I am just making a lot of noise but I do not let such negative comments affect, much less stop me. This is my biggest advocacy because the budget is the lifeblood of the nation. If this blood is taken away, the nation may suffer from anemia, or even a stroke,” he added.
Related: Ping sa Pork: Makakatulog na Ako nang Mahimbing, Nabantayan Ko ang Badyet
Continue reading “Lacson: Exposing Attempts to Sneak Pork into Budget Part of Patriotic Duty”
The 2019 national budget is doomed, but not to our own liking.
I will raise a big legal issue before my colleagues in the Upper House out of this latest scheme that our Lower House counterparts led by their Speaker is resorting to, in order to manipulate the ratified bicameral committee report.
Based on information shared by several members of the House of Representatives themselves, and I completely agree, among the other manipulations being undertaken by the House leadership on the ratified bicameral report prior to the printing and enrollment of the budget measure, Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has no business or legal authority to prepare and impose the menu list of the Department of Health appropriations for Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) worth PhP25 million in individual allocations for her favored congressmen, including a PhP2.5-million allocation for the purchase of an ambulance; while only PhP8 million are being distributed to those who did not support her election as Speaker.
Worse, exercising this latest brazen, illegal act after the bicameral committee report has been adopted and ratified by both houses smacks of grave abuse of discretion on the part of Speaker Arroyo, not to mention a clear violation of the 1987 Constitution, specifically Art VI Sec 26 paragraph 2, thus:
“… Upon the last reading of a bill, no amendment thereto shall be allowed …”
I maintain, and I trust that majority of my colleagues in the Senate will agree, that such realignments ordered by Speaker Arroyo prior to the printing of the proposed 2019 budget is clearly unconstitutional and inappropriate.
Needless to say, and it is basis in our legislative process that the House as a body has the sole power to make the amendments, not the Speaker, and certainly not after the ratification of the bicameral report.
*****
In an interview on DWIZ, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– possible delay in the signing of the 2019 budget due to House’s post-ratification pork
– need to revisit RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty amid US State Secretary Pompeo’s assurance
Quotes from the interview… Continue reading “Interview on DWIZ | March 2, 2019”
If you notice, the budget bill has not been transmitted to Malacañang in spite of the bicam report being ratified by both houses of Congress more than two weeks ago.
I have it on good information that the House leadership is still waiting for several congressmen to finalize the submission of their individual projects. This is not to mention that insertions and realignments were made even after the bicameral report ratification.
While technically speaking, it may not constitute post-legislation enactment since the President has not yet signed the budget measure, we can see clear abuse of discretion especially if done without the concurrence of the Senate; it is also an utter disregard of the Supreme Court’s 2013 landmark ruling.
This latest caper that the House leadership is trying to pull off may also constitute violation of the 1987 Constitution. I’ve talked to some congressmen who expressed anxiety that the pork barrel allocations of at least 60 congressmen were slashed post-bicam ratification.
Whatever it is, these are things that they do for greed. It’s a shame and revolting, to say the least.
*****
To those who remain confused about institutional and individual amendments in the budget, Sen. Lacson differentiates the two in his letter to The Manila Times.
Sen. Lacson’s letter is in response to the challenge of former Sen. Francisco Tatad for further details of the institutional amendments he proposed to the P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019. The letter was sent to The Manila Times last Feb. 19. As the reply has yet to be published after more than one week, this is also for the enlightenment of those who had read former Sen. Tatad’s earlier insinuations and challenge to Sen. Lacson.
#NoToPork
Related: In the Spirit of Transparency: Lacson Details Institutional Amendments to 2019 Budget
Continue reading “A Closer Look: Institutional Amendments to the 2019 Budget”
From Santiago F. Dumlao Jr. in BusinessMirror: The public has all along been aware of the reprehensible practices associated with the pork barrel system, and some senators, Sen. Panfilo Lacson Sr. specifically, indeed have refused their pork barrel allocation to publicly express their personal protest.
To The Manila Times: This is in connection with the thinly veiled insinuations made against Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson by Mr. Francisco Tatad in his Feb. 13, 2019 column in The Manila Times.
Related:
Olivar hurled personal innuendos to muddle the issue [Manila Standard]
Lacson to ‘Talking Heads’: Keep Helping Enlighten Public on Pork
Continue reading “Letter to the Editor: Senator Lacson’s ‘institutional amendments’ in 2019 budget explained [Manila Times]”
To the Manila Standard: It is quite pathetic that Mr. Olivar, instead of helping his former boss clear up the issue of pork in the 2019 budget, chose the path of his fellow talking heads by hurling personal innuendos at the Senator to muddle the issue.
Related: Lacson to ‘Talking Heads’: Keep Helping Enlighten Public on Pork
Continue reading “Letter to the Editor: On Gary Olivar’s hurling personal innuendos to muddle the ‘pork’ issue [Manila Standard]”
Dahil mulat na ang publiko sa pag-abuso sa kaban ng bayan bunga ng patuloy na pag-iral ng pork barrel sa mga mambabatas, lumilinaw na ang pag-asang magamit ang pondong napupunta sa mga ito sa tama at dapat na pagkagastusan.
Ayon kay Senador Panfilo Lacson, itutuloy niya ang kanyang krusada laban sa pork barrel at ang susunod na yugto nito ay ang kampanyang masunod ang tamang budget process upang matukoy ang mga prayoridad ng pagkakalooban ng pondo.
“It is high time we eliminate the obvious disconnect between the needs and priorities of the countryside local government units and the expenditure program at the national level, due to the absence of consultations,” banggit ni Lacson.
Related:
Privilege Speech: Living Without Pork (Part II)
On the Senate Caucus Involving the 2019 Budget
Lacson Readies More Headway vs ‘Pork,’ Warped Budgeting Process
Continue reading “Level Up na Krusada ni Ping: Pondohan ang Proyektong Kailangan ng Tao”
After seeing some progress this year, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson is eyeing more headway against “pork” and other flaws in the warped budgeting process that has allowed it to thrive.
Lacson said making sure the budgeting process is followed properly will prevent “pork” by having district representatives in Congress take part in planning at the local level, instead of inserting projects after Malacanang has already submitted its version of the budget – the National Expenditure Program – to Congress.
“It is high time we eliminate the obvious disconnect between the needs and priorities of the countryside local government units and the expenditure program at the national level, due to the absence of consultations,” Lacson said.
“Because of this disconnect, district representatives – instead of attending and participating in the formulation of local development plans within their districts, where they are members of the Local Development Councils – opt to arbitrarily make insertions during the authorization phase, without due regard to the needs and priorities of the LGUs within their districts,” he added.
Related:
Privilege Speech: Living Without Pork (Part II)
On the Senate Caucus Involving the 2019 Budget
Level Up na Krusada ni Ping: Pondohan ang Proyektong Kailangan ng Tao
Continue reading “Lacson Readies More Headway vs ‘Pork,’ Warped Budgeting Process”
From BusinessMirror: “More than that, hopefully, I was able to enlighten the public because of the public discourse that transpired, for or against the outlawed pork barrel.”
Continue reading “Lacson: ‘Gaining headway’ in ridding budget of pork [BusinessMirror]”
“As the abolished “pork barrel” shows itself anew, dynamic and changeable; resounds in the halls of our country’s legislature; and speaks of the insatiability of corruption, how can one, in good conscience, not see, hear, and speak of it?” – Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson, in his privilege speech on Feb. 8, 2019
Related: Living Without Pork (Part II)
Continue reading “Pork-Ridden, Cholesterol-Rich 2019 Budget”
In an interview on DWIZ, Sen. Lacson answered questions on pork in the 2019 budget.
Quotes from the interview… Continue reading “Interview on DWIZ | Feb. 9, 2019”
Mr. President, I rise before you on a matter of personal and collective privilege.
“To See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil.”
Mr. President, put literally, this proverbial adage serves as an age-old directive for dealing with impropriety — by looking the other way, refusing to hear and speak out, and feigning ignorance when something wrong is unfolding.
Related:
Living Without Pork (2003 privilege speech)
List: Institutional Amendments Proposed by Sen. Lacson in the 2019 Budget
Continue reading “Privilege Speech: Living Without Pork (Part II)”
Sen. Legarda did not actually present what she and Rep. Andaya have agreed upon in the small group bicam. She merely articulated to the best of her recollection what the bicam report would be presented for ratification.
Basically, yes, the P160 million per House member plus the billion-peso insertions made by a number of their colleagues, and the P23-billion Department of Public Works and Highways insertions by a number of senators plus other insertions in different agencies have all been retained.
Sadly, no matter how hard I argued last night, I only have one vote although I have good reason to believe that some like-minded colleagues are supportive of deleting all pork insertions, particularly the excessive and unconscionable realignments made not only by our House counterpart, but by a number of our colleagues as well.
On a positive note, all appropriations for flood control, particularly dredging, desilting and the like have been deleted to be realigned to capital outlay for purchase of dredging machines. Also, the Department of Health realignment that the Senate introduced and most of my institutional amendments have been retained, like the 240-day-a-year school feeding program for wasted and nearly wasted school children, additional allowance for teachers, some appropriations cover for laws passed regarding our age old veterans, augmentation budget requested by the judiciary, activation of one infantry division, etc.
More than that, hopefully, I was able to enlighten the public because of the public discourse that transpired, for or against the outlawed pork barrel. I would say, we have gained some headway in this regard.
Hopefully, the President and his economic managers will further scrutinize the final version of the budget bill as passed by Congress and exercise his veto power to excise the line items that clearly look and smell like pork.
*****
Puwedeng maawat ng Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa pamamagitan ng veto power ang pagkalulong at pagkagahaman ng karamihan sa mga kongresista at ilang senador sa pork barrel.
Ito ang nakikitang solusyon ni Senador Panfilo Lacson upang malinis at matanggal sa loob ng 2019 national budget ang pork barrel na pilit na isinisingit ng marami sa kanyang kasamahan sa lehislatura na tila walang kabusugan.
Ayon kay Lacson, higit pa sa sapat ang veto power ng Pangulo upang matanggal ang mga personal amendments sa pambansang badyet na bunga ng pagsisingit, hindi lamang ng mga kongresista kunding maging ng ilan sa kanyang mga kasamahan sa Senado.
“Mr. President, you have displayed your strong political will on several occasions. This time, use your line-item veto power over the 2019 appropriations measure by removing all the ‘pork’ inserted by lawmakers who are incorrigibly insatiable and simply ‘beyond redemption,’” banggit ni Lacson sa kanyang Twitter account.
Related: Lacson: Vetoing ‘Pork’ in 2019 Budget to Affirm President’s Strong Political Will
Continue reading “Ping: Mga Gahaman sa Pork Barrel, Kayang Purgahin ng Presidente”
Vetoing the “pork” in the P3.7-trillion budget for 2019 may further affirm President Rodrigo Duterte’s much-touted strong political will, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said Tuesday.
In a post on his Twitter account, Lacson said the President can expunge the pork from the budget using his line-item veto power.
“Mr. President, you have displayed your strong political will on several occasions. This time, use your line-item veto power over the 2019 appropriations measure by removing all the ‘pork’ inserted by lawmakers who are incorrigibly insatiable and simply ‘beyond redemption,’” he said.
Related: Ping: Mga Gahaman sa Pork Barrel, Kayang Purgahin ng Presidente
Continue reading “Lacson: Vetoing ‘Pork’ in 2019 Budget to Affirm President’s Strong Political Will”
From Jarius Bondoc’s column in The Philippine Star: Worth recalling, when the SC banned pork barrels in Dec. 2013, the slabs were P200 million each for 24 senators and P70 million each for 255 congressmen – P22.65 billion. Today, five years later, pork is 14 times larger.
Continue reading “Pork barrel now 14 times larger than when outlawed [Philippine Star]”
From Fr. Rolando dela Rosa’s column in the Manila Bulletin: Senator Lacson is right in deploring the pork barrel system which has become one big, stinking, convoluted mess. But it seems his words fall on deaf ears.
Continue reading “Senator Lacson’s lonely crusade [Manila Bulletin]”
In an interview on DZBB, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– more ‘talking heads’ after Reps. Bravo and Castro
– institutional vs individual amendments
– call to the public on the pork barrel issue
Quotes from the interview… Continue reading “Interview on DZBB | Feb. 3, 2019”
Sa halip na magdulot ng kahihiyan, lalong nakatulong ang mga kongresistang naglilihis sa tunay na pangyayari sa 2019 national budget para maunawaan ng publiko ang krusada ni Senador Panfilo Lacson laban sa pork barrel.
Ayon kay Lacson, ang mga kongresistang nagsalita na ang mismong nagpaabot sa publiko kung gaano kaganid ang mga ito bunga na rin ng pagbaluktot sa mga usapin, makapagpasasa lamang sa pork barrel na itinago sa iba’t ibang ahensiya.
Matapos ang sunod-sunod na pagbubunyag ng mga nakatagong pork barrel sa iba’t ibang ahensiya mula sa deliberasyon sa Senado hanggang sa pagtalakay nito sa bicameral panel, nagpalusot at nag-imbento ng buwelta kay Lacson ang ilang kaalyado ni House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Related: Lacson to ‘Talking Heads’: Keep Helping Enlighten Public on Pork
Continue reading “Ping sa Mga Naglilihis sa Isyu ng Pork Barrel: Nakatulong Kayo sa Krusada Ko”
The more they talk, the more they enlighten the public about the “evil pork” in the national budget, if unwittingly so.
On this note, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson thanked the “talking heads” of House Speaker Gloria Arroyo for contributing to the public’s knowledge on the issue.
“What Speaker GMA’s talking heads obviously do not realize is that they’re actually advancing my cause in educating the public more about the ‘evil pork’ in the national budget. I earnestly urge them to continue this public discourse. Many thanks to Cong. Castro and Bravo,” Lacson said in a post on his Twitter account Saturday night.
Related: Ping sa Mga Naglilihis sa Isyu ng Pork Barrel: Nakatulong Kayo sa Krusada Ko
Continue reading “Lacson to ‘Talking Heads’: Keep Helping Enlighten Public on Pork”
Malaki na ang ipinagkaiba ng ugali ni party list Rep. Anthony Bravo sa kasalukuyan mula noong 2016 bilang isang miyembro ng Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso.
Ito ang isiniwalat ni Senador Panfilo Lacson matapos na makisawsaw si Bravo sa usapin ng individual at institutional amendments sa pambansang gastusin para sa 2019.
Ayon kay Lacson, noong una niyang makadaupang-palad ang naturang kinatawan ay hangang-hanga siya sa pananalita nito.
“First time I met Cong. Anthony Bravo in 2016, he came across as genuine, sincere and credible. I normally am a good judge of character, but looks and first instance demeanor can be deceiving sometimes,” dismayadong pahayag ni Lacson sa kanyang Twitter account.
Related:
‘Can You Do the Same?’ Lacson Dares Congressman to Disclose Budget Amendments
On Rep. Bravo’s insinuations in defending the House’s pork
List: Institutional Amendments Proposed by Sen. Lacson in the 2019 Budget
Continue reading “Pagkatao ni Rep. Anthony Bravo ‘Binago’ ng Pork Barrel”
Instead of making miserably inadequate and baseless accusations, congressman Anthony Bravo should make public his amendments to the proposed national budget for 2019.
Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson hurled this challenge after he debunked Bravo’s claims that he inserted so-called secret amendments in the budget.
“Mr. Congressman, I already made public all my amendments in the 2019 national budget. Can you do the same?” Lacson said in a post on his Twitter account on Saturday.
Lacson pointed out he has always submitted his amendments to the budget bill in official written form to the chairperson of the Senate finance committee, because these are backed by proper planning and scrutiny.
“Ever since, I submit to the chair of the Senate Committee on Finance in official written form all my amendments to the annual budget bill for one very simple reason: I have nothing to hide since they are all institutional. In fact, I take pride that my amendments benefit no one else but the agencies concerned,” he said.
Related:
Pagkatao ni Rep. Anthony Bravo ‘Binago’ ng Pork Barrel
On Rep. Bravo’s insinuations in defending the House’s pork
List: Institutional Amendments Proposed by Sen. Lacson in the 2019 Budget
Continue reading “‘Can You Do the Same?’ Lacson Dares Congressman to Disclose Budget Amendments”
These are pathetic assertions by the good party list representative. If he intended to be truthful about his statements, he should not have skipped my revelation about the PHP23-billion insertions made by a number of senators on the DPWH budget alone.
Instead of flatly denying that each congressman has now entitlements of PHP160 million each, billions more for some selected few, he has chosen to ascribe motive to my long-standing advocacy against the pork barrel system that refuses to go away in spite of the 2013 Supreme Court ruling outlawing the same.
I am reminded of a portion of my privilege speech more than one and a half decades ago, thus: “I am sure to lose some friends and create more enemies in this 12th Congress. I am sure skeptics will taunt me and the cynics will mock me without end.”
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Dapat walang itinatago sa publiko at klaro ang mga detalye ng paglalaanan ng pambansang gastusin ng pamahalaan.
Ito ang matapang na panuntunan ni Senador Panfilo Lacson sa pagsapubliko ng kanyang institutional amendments sa 2019 national budget, na kasalukuyang tinatalakay ng bicameral conference committee.
“In the spirit of transparency, I instructed my staff to make public all my amendments in the 2019 national budget,” paglalahad ni Lacson sa kanyang Twitter account.
“I hope all proponents will do the same to remove all suspicions that the bicameral conference is a venue for sneaky horse trading among legislators,” dagdag ng mambabatas.
Related:
In the Spirit of Transparency: Lacson Details Institutional Amendments to 2019 Budget
List: Institutional Amendments Proposed by Sen. Lacson in the 2019 Budget
Continue reading “Patas Dapat! Ping, Isinapubliko ang Institutional Amendments sa 2019 Budget”
Citing the need for transparency, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson has made public the details of the institutional amendments he proposed in the P3.7-trillion national budget for 2019.
Lacson expressed hope other proponents of amendments to the budget will do the same, to remove speculations that the bicameral conference committee is a venue for “horse trading” and compromises among legislators.
“In the spirit of transparency, I instructed my staff to make public all my amendments in the 2019 national budget. I hope all proponents will do the same to remove all suspicions that the bicameral conference is a venue for sneaky horse trading among legislators,” he said in a post on his Twitter account.
Related:
Patas Dapat! Ping, Isinapubliko ang Institutional Amendments sa 2019 Budget
List: Institutional Amendments Proposed by Sen. Lacson in the 2019 Budget
Continue reading “In the Spirit of Transparency: Lacson Details Institutional Amendments to 2019 Budget”
In an interview on DZRH, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– institutional vs individual amendments in the 2019 budget
– ‘pork’ in the P3.7-trillion proposed 2019 budget
Quotes from the interview… Continue reading “Interview on DZRH | Jan. 29, 2019”
In an interview, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– bicameral conference committee discussions on the 2019 budget
– Sulu church bombing
Quotes from the interview… Continue reading “#PingSays: On the 2019 budget and Sulu church bombing | Jan. 28, 2019”
Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson is pushing for a P4.78-billion institutional amendment in the P3.7-trillion national budget for 2019 for an infantry division that will counter threats from armed groups like the Abu Sayyaf.
Lacson, who disclosed this at the bicameral conference committee meeting on the 2019 budget on Monday, said the funding to mobilize the 11th Infantry Division was requested by the Department of National Defense (DND).
“It is an institutional amendment that I introduced, for the activation of an infantry division as requested by the DND,” he said.
Related: Kontra-Terorismo: AFP Binuhusan ni Ping ng P4.7 Bilyon
Continue reading “Lacson Pushes P4.78-B Institutional Amendment for Mindanao Infantry Unit”
In an interview on DZMM, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– passage of the 2019 national budget
– amendments to the Juvenile Justice Act
Quotes from the interview… Continue reading “Interview on DZMM | Jan. 23, 2019”
In an interview on ANC, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– passage of the 2019 national budget
– allegations of graft vs DBM Sec Diokno and calls for him to resign
– compensation for landowners affected by DPWH right-of-way projects
– Bangsamoro Organic Law plebiscite
Quotes from the interview… Continue reading “Interview on ANC | Jan. 21, 2019”
