Tag: Congress

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Lacson to Executive Branch: Protect Education Sector’s Budget, Uphold the Constitution

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson pressed the Executive Department Monday to guard the education sector’s budget from a repeat of last year’s congressional “miracle” where it was overtaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), in violation of the Constitution.

Lacson warned the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) not to become an “accessory” again to the potential violation of the 1987 Constitution.

“You need to remind legislators not to realign too much because we may be violating the Constitution. When you potentially violate the Constitution, that’s a major, major, major issue,” he told Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman in Filipino, at the briefing by the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC).

In Filipino: Lacson sa Ehekutibo: Protektahan ang Badyet ng Edukasyon, Panindigan ang Konstitusyon

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Lacson Discovers ‘Passing Through’ Modus in Overpriced Flood Control and Infra Projects

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson has discovered a modus operandi involving lawmaker-contractors that may add to the overpricing or substandard construction – or both – of flood control and other infrastructure projects.

Lacson said the scheme, dubbed “passing through,” involves a contractor having to pay five to six percent of the project cost when building a project in a legislative district where the lawmaker is a contractor, or where the lawmakers’ relatives are contractors.

“For example, if a contractor builds a project in the district of a lawmaker who is a contractor or who has relatives that are contractors, he/she must pay a five-percent ‘passing through’ fee, like a toll. That already deducts from the cost of the project. This is known in the Department of Public Works and Highways,” he said in Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio Sunday.

“The fee is usually five percent but sometimes it goes up to six. Based on the information we got from contractors, the project is compromised,” he added. “How will the contractor be compensated if he/she does not use substandard materials or take shortcuts? The government is thus shortchanged.”

In Filipino: Lacson, Natuklasan ang ‘Passing Through’ Modus sa Overpriced Flood Control at Infra Projects

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Ping Lacson Appeals to Lawmakers: Let Mandated Agencies Implement Projects

Allow the mandated agencies to implement government projects.

This was the appeal of former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson to lawmakers on Tuesday, as he said lawmakers can better help ensure the proper implementation of projects by exercising their power of oversight.

“We have the mandate of oversight. How can we exercise it if some of us interfere in the implementation of projects, which is not our job?” he said in Filipino at a press conference of the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate in Pasay City.

Related: Apela ni Ping Lacson sa Mambabatas: Hayaan ang Ahensyang May Mandato na Magpatupad ng Proyekto

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Disclaimer on a Fake Quote Card

A quote card has been circulating on social media and online chat groups, containing quotes that suggest I have spoken out against asking for the identities of persons involved in projects using intelligence funds. It is fake and obviously manipulated.

Having been exposed to liquidation procedures of intelligence funds due to my previous life as a law enforcer, let me stress that the basic premise is that ALL public funds – including intelligence funds – are accountable and subject to audit, with slight differences in the procedure of liquidation.

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Lacson says aid distribution not part of lawmakers’ job [ABS-CBN News]

From ABS-CBN News: Lawmakers’ distribution of Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers, Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations, and other forms of government aid is “unconstitutional” and “illegal,” former Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Sunday.

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