Tag: DZBB

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Lacson: Why Did Ex-DPWH Chief Bonoan Take Project ‘Memos’ from ‘Outsiders’?

Why did ex-Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Sec. Manuel Bonoan receive handwritten “memos” from civilians or non-organic DPWH personnel on which projects to endorse when he headed the department?

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson bared this Tuesday as the Senate continues to look into the effects of corruption behind anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects.

“I am baffled by the documents I saw, where Bonoan received handwritten memos that turned out to be from civilians or non-organic DPWH personnel. How did these memos, which were scribbled on Post-It notes, get to Bonoan?” Lacson said in Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio.

“That’s the hard part. Such communications didn’t go through the official channels of the department. Why is the secretary dealing with them directly?” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Ex-DPWH Chief Bonoan Tumanggap ng mga “Memo” Mula sa Tagalabas?

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Lacson: DPWH Diverted P50B in Unprogrammed Funds for Infra Projects in 2024

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) diverted no less than P50 billion from unprogrammed appropriations in the 2024 budget for various infrastructure projects, including P30 billion for flood control projects alone, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson bared Tuesday.

Lacson said this showed how DPWH officials have become comfortable with not following the government’s master plan for infrastructure projects.

“In 2024 alone, the DPWH diverted P50 billion from unprogrammed appropriations for infrastructure projects, including P30 billion for flood control projects. This means DPWH officials have become comfortable with funding such projects even if this means violating the government’s master plan,” he said in Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio.

“These appropriations were spread throughout several districts. The public fund was abused because of the collusion between some lawmakers and DPWH officials, to the point that lawmakers gave the DPWH bigger funds than the education sector – and in 2025, they continued this practice until it exploded in our faces,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: DPWH, Inilaan ang P50B Unprogrammed Funds Para sa Infra Projects noong 2024

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Lacson Stepping Aside as Blue Ribbon Chairman, But Will Continue Anti-Corruption Drive

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is stepping aside as chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, after some colleagues aired their disappointment over the investigation into anomalous flood control projects.

But Lacson – who noted that all Senate committee chairpersons including the Blue Ribbon are elected by fellow senators and thus serve at the pleasure of their peers – maintained that this will not stop his continuing fight against corruption.

“Since all chairpersons of the Senate committees are elected by our peers, I serve at the pleasure of my colleagues, particularly the members of the majority. Rightly or wrongly, when quite a number of them have expressed disappointment over how I’m handling the flood control project anomalies, I thought it’s time for me to step aside in favor of another member who they think can handle the committee better,” Lacson said.

“No amount of criticisms from misinformed netizens and partisan sectors can distract or pressure me from doing my job right, but when my own peers start expressing their group or individual sentiments, maybe it is best to vacate. Nevertheless, I will continue to fight a corrupt and rotten system in the misuse and abuse of public funds as I have consistently done in the course of my long years in public service,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson Magbibitiw Bilang Blue Ribbon Chairman, Ngunit Ipagpapatuloy ang Laban Kontra Katiwalian

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Lacson: Budget Insertions Part of Congress’ Mandate, but Abused by Lawmakers

Budget insertions by themselves are not illegal nor evil as they are part of the mandate of lawmakers in shaping the national budget – but this mandate has been abused by lawmakers, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Monday as he bared the House of Representatives has its own share of humongous amendments a.k.a. insertions in the 2025 budget.

Lacson, who earned a reputation as a no-nonsense watchdog of the national budget, reiterated his call for transparency and accountability from lawmakers in the deliberations for the 2026 budget.

“Introducing insertions are not illegal. It is our mandate as lawmakers to review the National Expenditure Program and introduce amendments. The problem is that many lawmakers abused this mandate,” Lacson said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio.

“I hope that in 2026, we will practice self-restraint. The people are angry so we must reform the way we pass the budget,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Budget Insertions Mandato ng Mambabatas, Pero Naabuso sa Kongreso

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Lacson Pushes Ban on Infra Project Insertions in Budget

To prevent a repeat of the massive corruption behind anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson pushed Sunday to ban lawmakers from making insertions for infrastructure projects in the budget bill.

Lacson stressed that the scale of corruption that has triggered public outrage and fueled protest actions all stem from the insertions made by greedy lawmakers.

“Both houses of Congress must agree not to make insertions for infrastructure projects. Institutional amendments are allowed but other insertions must be removed,” he said in Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio.

“This should apply not just to unprogrammed appropriations. Lawmakers simply must not meddle in infrastructure projects because that is the root of this massive corruption,” he added. “If we analyze the situation, Congress starts the corruption because of numerous insertions involving hundreds of billions of pesos.”

In Filipino: Lacson: Infra Project Insertions sa Budget, Dapat I-Ban

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