Tag: flood control projects

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Lacson Defends Blue Ribbon Committee’s Institutional Processes Against Marcoleta’s ‘Pagbibida-Bida’

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Tuesday defended the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s institutional processes against the “pagbibida-bida” (know-it-all actions) of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta on the committee’s investigation into the flood control scandal.

In a privilege speech, Lacson, who chairs the Blue Ribbon Committee, refuted what he called Marcoleta’s “tirades and prevarications in and out of the Senate” targeting him.

“Much as I would like to abide by what my elders had taught me that “silence is the best response to nonsense,” I am constrained to take the floor to set the record straight and correct the prevarications spewed on this very floor by one of our colleagues, namely Senator Rodante Marcoleta,” he said.

“Like on many past occasions, I could have effortlessly dismissed Senator Marcoleta’s statements, as I refuse to dignify his ego-driven provocations. But when the attacks shift from professional to obsessively personal, I must shut the whole political circus down – firmly, completely, and without ambiguity,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Binoljak si Marcoleta sa Pagbibida-Bida sa Blue Ribbon Probe

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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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Lacson: Blue Ribbon Members to Discuss Draft Partial Committee Report

Members of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee are to discuss on Wednesday the panel’s draft partial committee report on the flood control scandal, in accordance with the committee’s rules, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Panel Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said.

Lacson noted that many of the committee’s members preferred to discuss and understand the contents of the draft report before signing it.

“Maybe due to the complexity and sensitivity involving the issues and personalities mentioned in the draft committee report, many members prefer to discuss and understand the contents of the report before they affix their signatures. Others may want to include their inputs.
That being said, I am aware that the chairman is not the committee. In fact, it is composed of 17 regular and three ex-officio members. As such, the report needs at least 11 signatures to make it an official committee report to be deliberated in plenary,” he said.

“As the chairman, I am open to hear the suggestions/recommendations from the BRC members as long as everything is aligned with the practical realities, especially those already undergoing preliminary investigations by the Department of Justice and Ombudsman which the partial committee report merely restated as part of its recommendations,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Blue Ribbon Draft Partial Committee Report, Tatalakayin ng mga Miyembro

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Lacson: President’s Orders to Pay Performing Contractors, Monitor Projects to Help Avert Infra Crisis

The orders of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to promptly pay performing contractors and to regularly monitor projects will help avert a looming infrastructure crisis, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Tuesday.

Lacson said these should help address the risk posed by the reluctance if not refusal of many contractors to participate in biddings for Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects.

“Spot on. Amidst reluctance, even refusal of many contractors to participate in public biddings for the DPWH infrastructure projects, the President’s order to facilitate the payment of outstanding obligations to contractors who delivered on their contracted government projects will help prevent a looming infrastructure crisis brought about by the ongoing reforms in the DPWH in the proper utilization of the national budget,” he said of the President’s order to promptly pay “good” contractors.

In Filipino: Lacson: Utos ng Pangulo na Bayaran ang Matinong Kontratista at Bantayan ang mga Proyekto, Makakatulong na Maiwasan ang Krisis sa Imprastraktura

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Lacson: Ex-DPWH Chief Bonoan, South Forbes Property May Be Focus of Next Blue Ribbon Hearing

Unresolved issues involving former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan, as well as the acquisition of a house and lot at 30 Tamarind Road in South Forbes in Makati City in 2023 where contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II was involved, may be the focus of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s next hearing on the flood control mess, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said.

Lacson said Bonoan still has much to explain, including a seeming “pattern” of wrong grid coordinates for flood control projects in the report Bonoan submitted to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“We can focus the next hearing on Bonoan to tackle other issues he can clarify. He is in the country so he can address the issues involving him,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Ex-DPWH Chief Bonoan, South Forbes Property Maaaring Maging Sentro ng Susunod na Blue Ribbon Hearing

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