Tag: DPWH

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Lacson: Ex-DPWH Secretary Bonoan Has Much to Reveal, But Must Also Make Restitution

Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan may have much to disclose as a potential state witness in the flood control scandal, but he must also make restitution for the billions in public funds lost to the anomalies, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said late Monday.

Lacson also said those who have dealt directly with Bonoan must be “quaking in their boots” due to the information the former DPWH chief can disclose.

“He certainly has a lot to reveal – from allocables to anomalous flood control and other defective infrastructure projects, including but not limited to the P500M in exchange for his Commission on Appointments confirmation as DPWH secretary in November 2022. With this new development, those who had direct dealings with him must be quaking in their boots,” Lacson said.

In Filipino: Lacson: Maraming Maibubunyag si Ex-DPWH Sec. Bonoan, Ngunit Dapat Ding Mag-Restitution

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Lacson Calls Out Marcoleta for ‘Deliberately’ Avoiding Denying Handwritten Note on P500M Allocables

He cried foul, yet stopped short of denying that he sought P500 million in “allocables” from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson thus called out Sen. Rodante Marcoleta Friday over his privilege speech protesting his inclusion in a presentation linking lawmakers to allocables, which Lacson had branded as the new pork barrel.

“He ‘deliberately’ missed the most important reaction: deny or refute the handwritten note (c/o Cong Marcoleta) on the document as presented,” Lacson said in a post on X.

In Filipino: Lacson: Marcoleta, ‘Sinasadyang’ Iwasan na Pabulaanan ang Handwritten Note sa P500M “Allocables”

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Lacson: Blue Ribbon Panel Pushing Ban on Allocables and Leadership Fund

Abolish the system of allocables and the “leadership fund” from the national budget, strengthen transparency in the budget process, and expand the powers of the Office of the Ombudsman to pursue corruption cases.

Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Tuesday that these are among the emerging recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Committee’s probe into anomalous flood control projects.

These are aside from the Blue Ribbon Committee’s hearings being instrumental in the ongoing preliminary investigations of the Department of Justice and the Ombudsman into key figures involved in the scandal – including former and incumbent lawmakers – as well as the trial happening at the Sandiganbayan, he emphasized.

Lacson pointed out that “almost all the recommendations in the partial committee report have already been overtaken by events as they are already being undertaken and in fact the said preliminary investigations are nearing completion if not completed already.”

“(Kasama sa rekomendasyon ng komite ang) ibawal ang allocables at leadership fund. Ito ang reporma tungkol sa budget. Tapos gawing transparent, of course ginawa namin sa 2026 budget, transparent ang entire budgeting process (Among the committee’s recommendations are to ban allocables and the leadership fund as part of reforms in the budgeting system. And make the crafting of the budget transparent, similar to what we did for the 2026 General Appropriations Act),” Lacson said in an interview on DZBB radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Blue Ribbon Panel, Itinutulak ang Pagbabawal sa Allocables at Leadership Fund

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Lacson Probes DPWH Infra Project List ‘Requested’ by CA Panel Member for Bonoan Confirmation

Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is investigating a list of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) flood control and other infrastructure projects reportedly “requested” by a Commission on Appointments panel member in exchange for the confirmation of then DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan in late 2022.

Lacson said Saturday that the information surfaced while he and his staff continue to inspect suspected anomalous flood control projects in other parts of the country.

“We received information that during a CA hearing for Bonoan’s confirmation as DPWH secretary, the confirmation process was used for such a transaction,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM, citing information from former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.

In Filipino: Lacson Iniimbestigahan ang Listahan ng DPWH Infra Projects na ‘Hiningi’ ng CA Panel Member para sa Bonoan Confirmation

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Lacson Feels Cost of Fighting Corruption – Again

Standing against corruption often comes at a high personal and political cost, and Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is experiencing this once more amid the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation into the flood control scandal.

Lacson said his chairmanship of the Blue Ribbon Committee, which is looking into the issue, has cost him friends and earned him new enemies, like in 2003 when he pushed for the abolition of the pork barrel system.

But he maintained he will continue to fulfill his duty and follow the evidence, regardless of who gets hurt.

“Déjà vu. When I took the chairmanship of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, I knew I could lose some friends and create new enemies. I had exactly the same feeling when I delivered my ‘Living Without Pork’ privilege speech in March 2003,” he said on X Saturday.

In Filipino: Lacson, Ramdam Muli ang Kapalit ng Pagsusulong ng Laban sa Katiwalian

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