Tag: flood control

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Lacson: Government Must Work Double Time to Make Up for ‘Lost Opportunity’ on Zaldy Co

The government has only itself to blame for the “lost opportunity” to take ex-Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co into custody and must now work double-time to bring him back, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Tuesday.

Lacson said Philippine authorities now face an embarrassing situation after failing to act promptly despite receiving timely information of Co’s apprehension by authorities in the Czech Republic.

“Simply put, it was a lost opportunity and our government has nobody to blame except itself. Failing to act with dispatch after having been timely informed of ex-Cong. Zaldy Co’s apprehension by the Czech authorities now puts the government in an embarrassing situation,” he said.

“Government must now exert extra effort and work double time to bring him back not only to redeem itself from this lapse but to show its sincerity and seriousness in bringing Co and his co-conspirators to justice,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Gobyerno, Kailangang Magdoble Kayod para Makabawi sa ‘Pagkawala’ ni Zaldy Co

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Lacson Readies Blue Ribbon Chairman’s Progress Report, Eyes ‘Faceoff’ with Former Speaker, Zaldy Co, Ex-Soldiers

Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is preparing a Chairman’s Progress Report on the flood control scandal to pave the way for the resumption of hearings and to aid case-buildup by the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman.

Lacson also said he is keen on inviting anew former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez to the committee’s next hearing – and having him join a faceoff with captured former Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co and former soldiers who claimed to have delivered kickbacks to various personalities on Co’s orders.

“We have drafted a Chairman’s Progress Report. I cannot report out the partial committee report on the Senate floor due to the lack of needed signatures. So to get it over with, I have thought of drafting the Chairman’s Progress Report, which has a precedent,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio Sunday.

“We owe it to the Filipino people. The Blue Ribbon Committee has conducted eight hearings on the matter but has yet to come up with even a partial report,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Inihahanda ang Blue Ribbon Chairman’s Progress Report, Balak ang ‘Faceoff’ kina Dating Speaker Romualdez, Zaldy Co, at mga Dating Sundalo

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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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