Tag: DWIZ

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Lacson: Senate Won’t Allow Reenacted 2025 Budget

The Senate will not allow the reenactment in 2026 of the 2025 national budget that has been described as corrupt to the core, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.

Lacson said this is why the Senate is adopting measures to ensure transparency in the deliberations on the budget bill, including the livestreaming of the bicameral conference committee.

“Passing the 2026 budget bill is important. Without it, we may have a reenacted budget, and we will not allow that. If the 2025 budget is reenacted, we will see large lump sum appropriations coming from a 2025 budget that has had so many problems,” he said in Filipino in an interview on DWIZ radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Hindi Papayagan ng Senado ang Reenacted 2025 Budget

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Lacson: Public Must Stay ‘Angry’ But Not Violent, to Keep Pressure on Govt vs Corruption

The issuance of arrest warrants against ex-Rep. Elizaldy Co and several others tied to anomalous flood control projects shows the government means business in addressing the issue, but the public must remain angry without being violent to ensure such efforts continue, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.

Lacson said authorities – particularly Malacanang, the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice – cannot afford to ease up because those involved would be emboldened to try again if they get away with their actions now.

“I don’t want public outrage to lessen, so long as people remain non-violent. If public anger diminishes, government might slacken their efforts. As of now, they are working because of the pressure from our people. But this is so long as the outrage does not turn violent, like the Sept. 21 protest where some protesters damaged some traffic lights,” he said in Filipino in an interview on DWIZ radio.

“No matter how many, no matter how long it takes, get to the bottom to achieve the logical conclusion,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Dapat Manatiling ‘Galit’ Pero Hindi Marahas ang Publiko para Patuloy ang Laban ng Gobyerno vs Korapsyon

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Lacson Uncovers Least P100B in Senators’ Insertions in 2025 Budget

At least P100 billion worth of items were inserted by “almost all” senators in the 19th Congress in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson bared on Sunday.

Lacson, an eagle-eyed watchdog of the national budget, cited documents he gathered indicating that these were individual insertions, although they were eventually held for later release (FLR).

“Sa Senate pa lang, at least P100 bilyon. Nagulat nga ako, sa individual insertions ito, ito naka-FLR ngayon (For the Senate, the insertions amounted to at least P100 billion. I was surprised because these are individual insertions although they were held ‘for later release’),” he said in an interview on DZMM radio.

“Pagkalalaki. Never pa ako nakakita kasi noong araw di pa declared unconstitutional ang PDAF nandoon lang sa hundreds of millions. E ngayon nakita ko ang total, kabuuan at least P100 billion (It was humongous. I have never seen such amounts. Before the Priority Development Assistance Fund was declared unconstitutional in 2013, ‘pork’ amounted to hundreds of millions. Now it’s at least P100 billion total for 24 senators alone),” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Ibinunyag ang Mahigit ₱100B Insertion ng mga Senador sa 2025 Budget

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Lacson: Blue Ribbon Panel to Focus on Substantial Issues

The fine-toothed comb of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation into the corruption behind anomalous flood control projects will focus on substance and substantial issues and not on distractions, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed Saturday.

Lacson said that in the case of the statement of “witness” Orly Guteza, which he read while under oath during the Blue Ribbon panel’s hearing last Thursday, what should be considered is the substance of the affidavit.

“What should be considered is the substance of the affidavit, that, unless refuted, and if corroborated, may be treated as sufficient evidence against those implicated by Guteza,” Lacson said..

“As far as the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is concerned, Guteza … made his statements under oath so it’s fine with us,” he added in a mix of English and Filipino, in an interview on DWIZ radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Blue Ribbon Committee, Tututok sa ‘Substantial’ na Isyu

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Taxpayer Lacson Shares Filipinos’ Anger Over Flood Control Project Mess

As a taxpayer, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson shares the frustration and anger of fellow Filipino citizens over how their taxes were lost to corruption, including the one behind anomalous flood control projects.

Lacson, who also chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee conducting an investigation on the matter, said Saturday that he continues to follow the evidence that he hopes will lead to the proverbial big fish.

“I understand our citizens’ frustration and anger and I share it. I am also frustrated and angry because we pay our taxes and we see what some corrupt officials did to it,” he said in Filipino in an interview on DWIZ radio.

“There is no other way to go but to ensure a logical conclusion, and the Senate under Senate President Vicente Sotto III through the Blue Ribbon Committee is fully committed to support and complement the mandate of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to bring to justice all those who must be made to pay for their sins against the Filipino people,” he added. “We are aware that our citizens will not settle for district engineers like the Brice Hernandezes and Henry Alcantaras of this world.”

In Filipino: Taxpayer Ping, Kaagapay sa Galit ng mga Pilipino sa Flood Control Project Mess

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