Tag: flood control

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Lacson: Signing of BRC Partial Report Should be Guided by Sense of Duty, Not Pakikisama

The signing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s partial report on the flood control mess should be guided by a sense of duty and not “pakikisama” or peer pressure, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson emphasized Saturday.

Lacson said senators must be swayed not by political affiliations or bloc lines but by their responsibilities as members of the Blue Ribbon committee when deciding whether to sign the partial report.

“For me, it doesn’t matter if you are in the majority or minority bloc, so long as you follow what is right. Otherwise, you will be blind if you claim that you won’t sign something from the majority because you are from the minority,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DWIZ radio.

“If you are a senator, you must have your own convictions, not follow the convictions of your colleagues,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Tungkulin, Hindi Pakikisama, ang Gabay sa Paglagda sa BRC Partial Flood Control Report

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Lacson Suspends Blue Ribbon Flood Control Hearings Pending His Sponsorship of Partial Committee Report in Plenary

Further hearings of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on the flood control mess are suspended until the panel’s partial report is reported out and sponsored in plenary by Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson.

Lacson said Wednesday that continuing hearings without reaching a logical conclusion in the form of a committee report that senators can debate, amend and adopt on the Senate floor would be pointless and contrary to Senate rules.

He also reminded Blue Ribbon panel members, particularly those from the minority bloc, of their duty including signing the report so it can be reported out, rather than calling for further hearings without fulfilling that responsibility.

“I do not expect any member of the minority to sign. They can offer all kinds of reasons all they want, wise or otherwise, not to fulfill their duties as members. It’s on them, not on the chairman,” he said.

“That said, I am suspending all hearings until I have reported out to sponsor in plenary the partial committee report at the very least,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Sinuspinde ang Pagdinig ng Blue Ribbon sa Flood Control Hangga’t Hindi Niya Naiuulat at Naiisponsor ang Partial Report sa Plenaryo

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Lacson Weighs ‘Believability’ of Ex-Soldiers’ Cash Delivery Story

The math doesn’t lie – and right now, the story of 18 ex-military men on supposedly delivering P805 billion in cash to certain individuals still doesn’t add up, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Monday.

A still-wary Lacson said that if all the details of the 18 ex-soldiers were true, those behind the cash delivery scheme would not have finished their deliveries until 2028 at the earliest.

“Even as we speak, I continue to fact-check the claims. It would be hard to call a hearing if these were lacking in believability,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino, in an interview on DZMM radio.

In Filipino: Lacson, Tinitimbang ang ‘Believability’ ng Kuwento ng mga Dating Sundalo sa Paghahatid ng Pera

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Lacson Reaffirms Evidence-Led Probe into Alleged Cash Delivery Scheme Involving Ex-Military Men Amid INC Statement

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson reaffirmed Saturday that evidence will remain the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s guide in probing the alleged cash delivery scheme involving former military personnel, amid comments by the Iglesia ni Cristo on the issue.

Lacson also maintained his respect for the Iglesia ni Cristo and its opinion on the issue, as he pointed out that having a different opinion does not automatically mean disrespect.

“As chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, I haven’t changed my position about being led by evidence guided only by the prudent and logical way of treating any information that comes to my attention – evaluate and validate the credibility and reliability of both the source as well as the information itself before taking action,” he said.

In FIlipino: Lacson, Muling Pinagtibay ang Evidence-Based na Imbestigasyon sa Umano’y Cash Delivery Scheme na Kinasasangkutan ng mga Ex-Militar

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Lacson Calls Out Marcoleta’s ‘Fake’ Premises on Blue Ribbon Probe, Ethics ‘Complaint’

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Sunday called out the “fake” premises cited by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta regarding the Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation into the flood control scandal, and an ethics complaint he has threatened to file against him.

Lacson said Marcoleta’s call to summon former Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin to the Blue Ribbon probe over alleged text messages with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was baseless, noting Bersamin was not mentioned in the committee’s records.

As for Marcoleta’s prospective ethics complaint over a supposed spliced video, Lacson said it was similarly unfounded.

“He’s been basing his statements and accusations on wrong premises. They’re all fake,” he said in English and Filipino, in an interview on DZBB radio.

In Filipino: Lacson, Tinuligsa ang Mga Pekeng Banat ni Marcoleta sa Blue Ribbon Probe at Bantang Ethics Complaint

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