Tag: Brice Hernandez

Posted on

Lacson: No Holiday Furlough for Discaya, 3 Former DPWH Engineers

Due to security concerns, there will be no holiday furlough for contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II and three former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineers detained in the Senate in connection with the flood control project scandal, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Tuesday.

Lacson, who also chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee probing the issue, said Senate President Vicente Sotto III approved his recommendation to deny the leave requests of Discaya and former engineers Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza and Henry Alcantara.

“I recommended to the Senate President that their request for Christmas furlough be denied mainly for security reasons, owing to the repeated media statements from Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that arrest warrants against them will be issued before Christmas,” Lacson said.

“So the risk of escape becomes greater – not to mention that it makes no sense to grant such requests for Christmas leave if indeed warrants are coming out by then,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Walang Holiday Furlough para kina Discaya, 3 Dating Inhinyero ng DPWH

Continue reading “Lacson: No Holiday Furlough for Discaya, 3 Former DPWH Engineers”

Posted on

Lacson: Sacked DPWH Official’s Retrieved Documents, Computer to Undergo Proper Handling to Preserve Chain of Custody

Documents, a computer and other items retrieved by sacked Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer Brice Hernandez to support the claims he made before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation into anomalous flood control projects will undergo proper procedure to preserve the chain of custody, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Sunday.

Lacson also said he has set the next hearing of the Blue Ribbon Committee at 9 a.m. of Tuesday, Sept. 22, due to “new developments,” and has prepared invitations to some former DPWH officials.

“He brought back items including documents and a computer, but these items are sealed for now. We will follow a procedure to preserve the chain of custody,” he said in Filipino, in an interview on DZBB radio.

“We need to preserve the chain of custody so that if the evidence is vital to a case, it will not be compromised,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Narekober na Dokumento at Computer ng Sinibak na DPWH Exec, Dadaan sa Tamang Proseso Para Mapreserba ang Chain of Custody

Continue reading “Lacson: Sacked DPWH Official’s Retrieved Documents, Computer to Undergo Proper Handling to Preserve Chain of Custody”

Posted on

Taxpayer Lacson Shares Filipinos’ Anger Over Flood Control Project Mess

As a taxpayer, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson shares the frustration and anger of fellow Filipino citizens over how their taxes were lost to corruption, including the one behind anomalous flood control projects.

Lacson, who also chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee conducting an investigation on the matter, said Saturday that he continues to follow the evidence that he hopes will lead to the proverbial big fish.

“I understand our citizens’ frustration and anger and I share it. I am also frustrated and angry because we pay our taxes and we see what some corrupt officials did to it,” he said in Filipino in an interview on DWIZ radio.

“There is no other way to go but to ensure a logical conclusion, and the Senate under Senate President Vicente Sotto III through the Blue Ribbon Committee is fully committed to support and complement the mandate of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to bring to justice all those who must be made to pay for their sins against the Filipino people,” he added. “We are aware that our citizens will not settle for district engineers like the Brice Hernandezes and Henry Alcantaras of this world.”

In Filipino: Taxpayer Ping, Kaagapay sa Galit ng mga Pilipino sa Flood Control Project Mess

Continue reading “Taxpayer Lacson Shares Filipinos’ Anger Over Flood Control Project Mess”

Posted on

Lacson: Massive P457-Million Cash Delivery to DPWH Engineers May Point to Bigger Players in Flood Control Project Mess

Massive cash deliveries made to now-sacked engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), including a P457-million one-time delivery last March, may point to bigger players in the flood control project mess, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Friday.

Lacson, who also chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, said it is baffling why a contractor is delivering cash to DPWH engineers for projects when it should be the other way around.

He was referring to the cash deliveries made by Syms Construction owner Sally Santos to sacked DPWH Bulacan engineer Brice Hernandez at least three times this year alone.

In Filipino: Lacson: Dambuhalang P457-M Cash Delivery sa mga Inhinyero ng DPWH, Maaaring Magturo sa Mas Malalaking Tao sa Flood Control Mess

Continue reading “Lacson: Massive P457-Million Cash Delivery to DPWH Engineers May Point to Bigger Players in Flood Control Project Mess”

Posted on

Lacson in ‘Sagasa Mode,’ Waiting for ‘Receipts’ on Flood Control Project Commissions to Senators

After confirming multimillion-peso budget insertions in 2023 and 2025 tied to Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is now waiting for “receipts” or proof of commissions they allegedly got from flood control projects.

Lacson said Friday that the “receipts” will aid in crafting stronger anti-corruption and accountability measures, as well as help the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and other prosecution bodies like the Ombudsman or Department of Justice.

In radio and TV interviews Friday morning, Lacson said he will ask Senate President Vicente Sotto III to allow ex-Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer Brice Hernandez to leave the Senate premises under escort, to produce these “receipts.” Hernandez had given details linking the two senators and a member of the House of Representatives to the insertions and claimed they got 30% commissions from flood control projects.

In Filipino: Lacson, ‘Sagasa Mode’ Na, Naghihintay ng ‘Resibo’ sa Flood Control Komisyon ng mga Senador

Continue reading “Lacson in ‘Sagasa Mode,’ Waiting for ‘Receipts’ on Flood Control Project Commissions to Senators”