Tag: DOJ

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Lacson Pushes Retribution and Restitution for Anomalous Infra Projects

“Retribution plus restitution” should be the formula of the government in dealing with erring officials and contractors behind anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.

Lacson said the government – and taxpayers – can potentially get back an initial P26 billion from contracted flood control ghost projects between 2023 and 2025 worth P629 billion, with 80% possible restitution in exchange for shortened jail terms after conviction of those involved.

“A simple extrapolation using the initial finding of 421 contracted ghost flood control projects out of the 8,000 (5.26%) so far inspected by the AFP/PNP/DepDev composite team as standard, with an aggregate total amount of at least P629B worth of flood control CONTRACTED projects in 2023-2025, if all those responsible – contractors, politicians and Department of Public Works and Highways officials – will return just 80% of their loot, after a plea bargaining agreement in exchange for shortened jail terms, easily the Filipino people can recover at least P26 billion,” Lacson said.

“Imagine the hundreds of billions in taxpayers’ money that we may be able to recover out of all the other similarly corrupted infrastructure projects,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Itinulak ang ‘Retribution and Restitution’ Formula para sa Maanomalyang Infra Projects

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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

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On the DOJ Review of the Anti-Drug War

In the pursuit of any criminal investigation, there is only one rule that applies. It is called the rule on evidence which should be bound by the rule of law.

Once such evidence is clearly established to warrant the filing of criminal information against identified suspects, there is no other course of action for the Department of Justice to pursue but to take those cases to their logical conclusion, no matter the consequences.

That being said, the role of the DOJ is crucial in showing the community of nations in general and the International Criminal Court in particular that as a civilized, democratic country, we can independently and responsibly hold criminally accountable our law enforcement officers – and their superiors, if the evidence so warrants – when they commit excesses in the performance if their sworn duties.

And the total war against drugs should not be an exception.

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Senate Committee Hearing on MUP Concerns

Sen. Lacson’s Opening Statement at the Hearing

Good morning, everyone.

As a refresher, allow me to briefly recount where we left off after the Joint Committee Hearing that we conducted last February of 2021, pertaining to the proposed measures that seek to address the pressing concerns from the ballooning pension requirements of our Military and Uniformed Personnel (MUP).

Before the suspension of the said hearing, the Committee had requested the following:

1. For various MUPs to submit to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) the necessary data with respect to the new entrants, so the latter will be able to update its actuarial study dated 05 January 2021; and

2. For the agencies to submit complete data on the real properties to aid the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in computing the total value of assets that may be considered in establishing the seed fund.

This Committee has been informed that, to date, the GSIS is yet to update its actuarial study due to either incomplete or delayed submission of some agencies. We can skip this for now as we were told the aggregate amount involved is not substantial enough to contribute to the reduction of subsidies coming from the GAA. Not to mention that the incomplete submission of data has already delayed the crafting of the committee report.

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Hearing of the Senate Defense Committee on MUP Concerns

Sen. Lacson’s Opening Statement at the Hearing:

This is a continuation of our previous public hearing held last October 5, 2020, on the MUP pension bills referred to this committee, which was suspended with the commitment that an actuarial study would be conducted by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) together with our key stakeholders, such as the Bureau of Treasury and the MUPs, among others.

Just to refresh our memory, last year and this year’s appropriations reflect the veracity of this serious financial concern, given the steep increase in the MUPs’ pension funding from P80 billion in 2020 to P120 billion under the 2021 General Appropriations Act.

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