Tag: DZBB

Posted on

Lacson Bares Alleged Extortion as Latest PCAB Scandal

From accreditation for sale to conflict of interest, and now extortion.

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Sunday bared a third issue hounding the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB), where a contractor was threatened with non-renewal of his license if he did not pay up.

“A contractor had a problem that he sought to settle with the PCAB. It was a case of extortion because he was blackmailed into coughing up at least a million pesos. He was told his license would not be renewed if he did not pay up,” Lacson said in Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio, citing information reaching him.

In Filipino: Lacson, Ibinulgar ang Umano’y Extortion sa PCAB

Continue reading “Lacson Bares Alleged Extortion as Latest PCAB Scandal”

Posted on

Lacson on DPWH’s Internal Anti-Corruption Investigation: Good Luck to All of Us!

Good luck sa ating lahat!

On this note, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Sunday questioned the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)’s internal investigation to curb corruption in the wake of the mess involving substandard and ghost flood control projects.

Lacson, in radio interviews over the weekend, said measures such as the DPWH’s creating an anti-corruption body and a travel suspension on its employees are not enough to convince the public that the agency can cleanse itself of corruption.

“Good luck to all of us if they will investigate themselves. Imagine, it’s like assigning an investigating panel made up of inmates in Bilibid to see if there are irregularities in the New Bilibid Prison,” he said in Filipino in an interview on DZBB.

In Filipino: Lacson sa Internal Anti-Corruption Investigation ng DPWH: Good Luck sa Ating Lahat!

Continue reading “Lacson on DPWH’s Internal Anti-Corruption Investigation: Good Luck to All of Us!”

Posted on

Lacson Sets Record Straight on Marcoleta’s Claims Regarding Flood Control Mess Probe

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Sunday set the record straight on Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s insinuation that he is meddling in Marcoleta’s work as chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee in looking into the mess involving substandard and ghost flood control projects.

Lacson was referring to Marcoleta’s claim in his television program where he insinuated that Lacson sought to adjust the schedule of the hearing because he did not want him to chair the hearing.

“In his TV program, he was criticizing some of us – myself, Sen. Francis Pangilinan, along with Senate minority leader Vicente Sotto III for proposing the creation of an independent body to investigate flood control anomalies in what he claims to be an attempt to undermine the mandate of the Blue Ribbon Committee which he chairs, and Sen Tulfo, to name a few. To set the record straight, no one is interfering in his work. We all want to have good governance,” Lacson said in Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio.

In Filipino: Lacson Nilinaw ang Pahayag ni Marcoleta Ukol sa Flood Control Mess Probe

Continue reading “Lacson Sets Record Straight on Marcoleta’s Claims Regarding Flood Control Mess Probe”

Posted on

Lacson Discovers ‘Passing Through’ Modus in Overpriced Flood Control and Infra Projects

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson has discovered a modus operandi involving lawmaker-contractors that may add to the overpricing or substandard construction – or both – of flood control and other infrastructure projects.

Lacson said the scheme, dubbed “passing through,” involves a contractor having to pay five to six percent of the project cost when building a project in a legislative district where the lawmaker is a contractor, or where the lawmakers’ relatives are contractors.

“For example, if a contractor builds a project in the district of a lawmaker who is a contractor or who has relatives that are contractors, he/she must pay a five-percent ‘passing through’ fee, like a toll. That already deducts from the cost of the project. This is known in the Department of Public Works and Highways,” he said in Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio Sunday.

“The fee is usually five percent but sometimes it goes up to six. Based on the information we got from contractors, the project is compromised,” he added. “How will the contractor be compensated if he/she does not use substandard materials or take shortcuts? The government is thus shortchanged.”

In Filipino: Lacson, Natuklasan ang ‘Passing Through’ Modus sa Overpriced Flood Control at Infra Projects

Continue reading “Lacson Discovers ‘Passing Through’ Modus in Overpriced Flood Control and Infra Projects”

Posted on

Lacson Supports President’s Disowning of Allies Engaged in Anomalous Deals

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson threw his support Tuesday behind President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s disowning of allies found to engage in anomalous deals, saying this deserves encouragement from the public.

Lacson, a long-time enemy of corruption, also said he is doing his own research on questionable flood control projects.

“The President is on a roll and we should encourage him some more. When he called out the members of Congress with his now most-quoted ‘Mahiya naman kayo’ remark, followed by his announcement yesterday that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has already submitted its report on the defective and anomalous flood control projects, the ball is now in his hands to make good on his promise to make accountable all those involved – errant contractors and their cohorts in government,” he said.

“That said, I am confident na ‘mahihiya naman ang Pangulo (the President will be embarrassed)’ if he fails to walk the talk,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Buo ang Suporta sa Pagtakwil ng Pangulo sa Kaalyadong Sangkot sa Anomalya

Continue reading “Lacson Supports President’s Disowning of Allies Engaged in Anomalous Deals”