Tag: DOJ

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Lacson: Flood Control Probe Findings Won’t Go to Waste Despite Senate Leadership Change

Amid the leadership change in the Senate on Monday, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson assured the public Tuesday that the Blue Ribbon Committee’s findings so far on the flood control anomalies would not go to waste.

Lacson said the committee under his leadership had already contributed to the fact-finding and case buildup efforts of the Department of Justice and Office of the Ombudsman against some personalities.

“Our findings would not go to waste. First of all, we already contributed to the preliminary investigation of the Department of Justice and Office of the Ombudsman, through testimonial and documentary evidence,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Hindi Masasayang ang mga Natuklasan sa Flood Control Probe sa Kabila ng Pagbabago sa Liderato ng Senado

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Lacson: Blue Ribbon to Transmit Evidence to Ombudsman, DOJ

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is to transmit to the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman the evidence it has so far gathered in its investigation into the flood control mess, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Panel Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson said the pieces of evidence – including documents, testimonies and transcripts – are now a matter of public record after he cited them in his privilege speech Tuesday.

“Moving forward, I ordered the preparation of a transmittal letter to the Office of the Ombudsman to give all pieces of evidence – documentary, testimonial, and transcripts. It is now a matter of public record as I cited them in my privilege speech,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino at the Kapihan sa Senado forum.

In Filipino: Lacson: Blue Ribbon, Ipapasa Na ang Ebidensya sa Ombudsman, DOJ

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Lacson: Government Must Work Double Time to Make Up for ‘Lost Opportunity’ on Zaldy Co

The government has only itself to blame for the “lost opportunity” to take ex-Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co into custody and must now work double-time to bring him back, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Tuesday.

Lacson said Philippine authorities now face an embarrassing situation after failing to act promptly despite receiving timely information of Co’s apprehension by authorities in the Czech Republic.

“Simply put, it was a lost opportunity and our government has nobody to blame except itself. Failing to act with dispatch after having been timely informed of ex-Cong. Zaldy Co’s apprehension by the Czech authorities now puts the government in an embarrassing situation,” he said.

“Government must now exert extra effort and work double time to bring him back not only to redeem itself from this lapse but to show its sincerity and seriousness in bringing Co and his co-conspirators to justice,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Gobyerno, Kailangang Magdoble Kayod para Makabawi sa ‘Pagkawala’ ni Zaldy Co

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Lacson Readies Blue Ribbon Chairman’s Progress Report, Eyes ‘Faceoff’ with Former Speaker, Zaldy Co, Ex-Soldiers

Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is preparing a Chairman’s Progress Report on the flood control scandal to pave the way for the resumption of hearings and to aid case-buildup by the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman.

Lacson also said he is keen on inviting anew former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez to the committee’s next hearing – and having him join a faceoff with captured former Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co and former soldiers who claimed to have delivered kickbacks to various personalities on Co’s orders.

“We have drafted a Chairman’s Progress Report. I cannot report out the partial committee report on the Senate floor due to the lack of needed signatures. So to get it over with, I have thought of drafting the Chairman’s Progress Report, which has a precedent,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio Sunday.

“We owe it to the Filipino people. The Blue Ribbon Committee has conducted eight hearings on the matter but has yet to come up with even a partial report,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Inihahanda ang Blue Ribbon Chairman’s Progress Report, Balak ang ‘Faceoff’ kina Dating Speaker Romualdez, Zaldy Co, at mga Dating Sundalo

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Lacson Pained Over Fate of Some Colleagues in Flood Control Mess, but Evidence Has Spoken

While seeing the fate that befell some of his colleagues in the flood control project scandal is painful, the evidence has spoken, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson, who chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, maintained that the investigation into the issue must be fair and follow where the evidence leads, and not target or cover up for anyone.

“It is not a pleasant thing to see some of our colleagues face charges or jail due to the flood control scandal. But painful as it is, I have always maintained that we will go where the evidence leads us. We will not force ourselves to look for evidence that will target certain people including our colleagues in the Senate,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.

“It is painful for me particularly, and for other senators who participate in the hearings. But we cannot do anything about it. If we will investigate mainly in aid of legislation just to cover up for some people, we might as well not investigate at all,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Masakit ang Makitang Sinapit ng Ilang Kasamahan sa Flood Control Mess, Ngunit Nagsalita Na ang Ebidensya

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