Tag: Commission on Appointments

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Lacson Vows Budgetary Support for AFP Drone Capability Development

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Thursday pledged budgetary support for the Armed Forces of the Philippines to develop drone capabilities for national defense, especially against external aggression.

Lacson gave the assurance to AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, noting that drones could provide the Philippines with a more practical and affordable defense capability compared to more expensive platforms such as warships and long-range missiles.

“I just want to find out (some details para) pagdating ng budget deliberations we can support the program, meron talaga kayong tangible program para mag-develop ng drones. Kasi ito lang ang pwede nating panlaban considering our situation (I just want to find out some details so that when we start budget deliberations, we can support the program if you have a tangible program to develop drones. Drones are the only practical option we have against external aggression, considering our situation),” he said at the confirmation hearing of AFP officials at the Commission on Appointments.

“I don’t think we have the wherewithal to build big warships and long-range missiles and the like. Meron ba tayong programa sa development ng drones, in case may external aggression? At least may laban man lang tayo maski wala tayong pera (I don’t think we have the wherewithal to build big warships or acquire long-range missiles and the like. Do we have a program to develop drones against external aggression? At least we have a fighting chance even if we don’t have enough funds),” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Nangako ng Suporta sa Badyet para sa Pagpapaunlad ng Drone Capability ng AFP

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Lacson Scores Marcoleta’s Ego-Driven Actions at CA Hearing

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Thursday scored the ego-driven actions of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta during Wednesday’s Commission on Appointments (CA) hearing on the confirmation of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officers and foreign service officers.

Lacson called out Marcoleta’s objecting to his manifestation for the prompt confirmation of the AFP and foreign service officers’ promotions – and agreeing to withdraw his objection, if Lacson would also withdraw his manifestation.

“Gusto niya, hindi raw siya mag-object, basta i-withdraw ko rin ang manifestation (ko). Ano siya, hilo? Ang gusto niya, ego yan eh. Para naman pakita niya na in-admit ko mali ang aking manifestation. Pinag-withdraw niya ako. Sabi ko, ano siya hilo? Di ko gagawin yan, ego lang yan. Hindi ako mag-play sa ego niya (He said he would not object so long as I withdraw my manifestation. Is he nuts? What he wants is to feed his ego, to make me admit that my manifestation was wrong. So is he nuts? I refused to accommodate him all for his ego. I’m not playing to his ego),” he said in an interview on DZBB radio.

“Kilala naman natin siya. Basta maipilit ang kanya, yan ang tama. Ayaw niya makinig ng explanation, ayaw niya makinig ng reason (We know him. He wants to insist that he is right, and he does not want to hear any explanation or listen to reason),” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Binoljak si Marcoleta Dahil sa Ego-Driven na Galaw sa Pagdinig ng CA

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Lacson Takes Up Cudgels for AFP Officers Affected by Senate Leadership Row

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Wednesday took up the cudgels for Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officers whose promotions awaiting confirmation by the Commission on Appointments (CA) were delayed by the Senate leadership row that started last May.

Lacson refuted the claim of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta that the affected AFP officers were considered bypassed because they fell short of the one-year ban, or one year before they reached retirement age.

“Just for clarity, I believe and I was told by the Secretary of the Commission on Appointments that the ad interim appointments of these fine gentlemen and lady is a mere resubmission of their previous ad interim appointments given before the May 25, 2026 resumption of the first regular session. And since this is a special session, it is a continuation of the first regular session,” Lacson said at the hearing of the CA defense committee.

“Therefore, hindi pa sila pasok sa one-year ban kasi hindi naman po nila kasalanan na nagkagulo-gulo kami sa Senado at hindi na-take up ang kanilang confirmation (Therefore, they are not covered by the one-year ban because it is not their fault that there was a leadership row in the Senate that prevented their confirmation from being taken up earlier),” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Ipinagtanggol ang mga Opisyal ng AFP na Naapektuhan ng Alitan sa Pamunuan ng Senado

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Lacson: New Senate Leadership to Address Plight of 29 AFP, 86 Foreign Service Officers Whose Confirmations were Delayed

Resolving the plight of 29 Armed Forces of the Philippines generals as well as 86 foreign service officers whose confirmations were stalled due to the recently ended Senate leadership gridlock will be one of the priorities of the new Senate leadership, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said late Wednesday.

Lacson said the leadership under Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian is exploring various measures, including asking Malacanang for an ad interim appointment for the affected officers, and a special session to let the Commission on Appointments confirm these.

“Naaawa kami una sa nakabinbin na confirmation na AFP officers. Kawawa sila kasi ang kanilang nomination was made when Congress was in session. Kanina lang kami nag adjourn sine die (We sympathize with the stalled confirmation of the AFP officers whose nominations were made when Congress was still in session; we just adjourned sine die this afternoon),” he said.

“Alang alang sa magigiting nating opisyal, hihiling kami sa pangulo kung pwedeng tumawag ng special session para ma-convene ang CA (For our fine officers, we will ask the President for a special session to convene the CA so their plight will be addressed),” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Bagong Liderato ng Senado, Tututukan ang Kalagayan ng 29 AFP, 86 Foreign Service Officers na Naantala ang Kanilang Confirmations

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Lacson Thanks Cloma Descendant for Ancestor’s Discovering, Occupying, Owning, Donating KIG to PH

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Tuesday thanked a descendant of trader Tomas Cloma for her ancestor’s role in discovering, occupying and eventually donating the Kalayaan Island Group to the Philippines.

Lacson particularly extended his thanks through Col. Jacquelyn Cloma, one of the military officers whose promotion was up for confirmation before the Commission on Appointments (CA) – and whose husband is the great-grandson of the KIG’s discoverer.

“Please extend my regards and I’d like to thank him on behalf of his lolo-sa-tuhod, Tomas Cloma, for discovering and occupying and owning and donating to the Philippine government the Kalayaan Island Group,” he said at the confirmation hearing of the CA’s committee on defense.

In Filipino: Lacson, Nagpasalamat sa Inapo ni Cloma sa Papel ng Ninuno sa Pagtuklas at Pag-angkin ng KIG para sa PH

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