Tag: DWIZ

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Lacson: ICI Commissioner Fajardo’s Resignation Stresses Urgency to Pass IPC Measure

The resignation of Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) Commissioner Rossana Fajardo further stresses the urgency to pass a measure creating an Independent People’s Commission (IPC) that will succeed and institutionalize the ICI, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said over the weekend.

Lacson said that while the ICI has been very helpful in gathering information that may lead to the prosecution and arrest of those involved in anomalous flood control projects, it is still an ad hoc body and is not permanent.

“The bill creating the IPC must be passed to institutionalize the function of the ICI and make it part of the law of the land. The ICI is an ad hoc body and is not permanent; it needs a mandate,” he said in Filipino and English in an interview on DWIZ radio late Saturday.

In Filipino: Lacson, Iginiit ang Pagmamadaling Maipasa ang Panukalang IPC Matapos ang Pagbibitiw ni ICI Commissioner Fajardo

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Lacson: DPWH, Cabral Files Show At Least 5 Cabinet Secretaries Had Allocables and/or Non-Allocables in 2025 Budget

Documents from the camp of the late Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Catalina Cabral and from the DPWH itself showed at least five Cabinet members and even some undersecretaries had allocables and/or non-allocables amounting to billions of pesos in the 2025 budget, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.

Lacson said these include one “ES” who had P8.3 billion, and ex-DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, whose allocables for 2025 alone amounted to at least P30.5 billion.

“At least five Cabinet secretaries and some undersecretaries had allocables and/or non-allocables, according to the documents. I was surprised at one entry that said ‘ES, P8 billion.’ How did one ‘ES’ get allocables?” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DWIZ.

“For Bonoan, I saw his allocables include P5 billion, plus three more batches totaling P25.5 billion, so P30.5 billion in all. What is his right to the allocables? Also, I saw the other Cabinet secretaries getting P2 billion each. Why?” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: 5 Cabinet Secretaries May Allocables at/o Non-Allocables sa 2025 Budget, Base sa DPWH at Cabral Files

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Lacson: Senate to Fight All the Way for Pork-Free Budget in Bicam

As both houses of Congress continue their bicameral conference committee discussions on the 2026 budget bill, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is confident that the Senate will fight all the way to ensure next year’s budget is pork-free.

Lacson, an eagle-eyed watchdog of the national budget, said this includes the Senate’s resolution to ratify the enrolled or final version of the budget bill to prevent the possibility of last-minute insertions.

“The budget must be pork-free. It will be too much if despite the fallout of the corruption behind the flood control project mess, there are still those who want to exploit public funds,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DWIZ radio.

“The bicam could be a matter of give-and-take but we must ensure the integrity of the budget and not allow self-interest. The interest of constituents is important but not the interest of kickbacks in infrastructure projects,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Lalaban Hanggang Dulo ang Senado para sa Pork-Free na Badyet sa Bicam

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Lacson: Senate Prioritizing Anti-Dynasty, Party List Reform Bills to Stop Corruption

The Senate is determined to prioritize the passage of bills enabling the Constitution’s mandate against political dynasties and reforming the party-list system to stop corruption, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.

Lacson pointed out that political dynasties had been linked to many anomalous flood control and infrastructure projects, with relatives succeeding each other in Congress.

“We’re all on the spot here. Many anomalous projects had been linked to political dynasties. Netizens noted political dynasties are a factor in anomalous flood control projects because family members succeed each other in Congress,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DWIZ radio.

“So when we resume session in January we will make sure these bills are passed on third reading. It’s just a matter of reconciling the various versions of the measure,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Senado, Ipinaprayoridad ang Anti-Dynasty at Party-List Reform Bills para Sugpuin ang Korapsyon

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Lacson: Government Can Explore Tapping UN Anti-Corruption Convention to Catch Zaldy Co

The Philippine government can explore tapping a 2003 anti-corruption convention of the United Nations to locate and arrest fugitive ex-Rep. Elizaldy Co, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.

Lacson said the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), which was adopted in 2003 and ratified by the Philippine Senate in 2006, is a legally binding treaty that provides a framework for international cooperation against corruption.

“One option the Philippine government may explore is to tap the UNCAC, where we are a signatory. Imagine, 192 countries signed the convention. If we tap the resources of 191 other countries, you can imagine how our efforts to locate and arrest Co will be easier,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DWIZ radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Maaaring Pag-aralan ng Gobyerno ang Paggamit ng UN Anti-Corruption Convention para Mahuli si Zaldy Co

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