Tag: flood control

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Lacson: DPWH Execs Relegated to Being Bagmen of Big Contractors, ‘Funders’

The foiled bribe try by a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer on Rep. Leandro Leviste last weekend may indicate DPWH district officials have become “legmen” and “bagmen” of powerful contractors and/or “funders,” or the lawmakers responsible for insertions in the General Appropriations Act, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Monday.

Lacson also said the corruption in the DPWH may have become so systemic that a surgical solution – beyond kicking out or reassigning officials – may be needed.

“DPWH Batangas 1st District Engineer Abelardo Calalo is far from being a ‘big fish.’ His arrest after a foiled bribery try on Rep. Leviste reinforces my theory that some DPWH officials, at least at the district engineering level have already been relegated to being ‘legmen’ and worse, ‘bagmen’ of some ‘powerful contractors’ or ‘funders’ responsible for the insertions in the budget,” Lacson said.

In Filipino: Lacson: Opisyal ng DPWH, Ginawang ‘Bagmen’ na Lang ng Malalaking Kontratista at ‘Funder’

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‘Sayang’: Lacson Dismayed with DPWH Chief Bonoan over ‘Isolated Case’ Claim

Sayang.

This was how Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson expressed his dismay with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan for insisting that the extent of corruption involving flood control projects in Bulacan is an “isolated case.”

Lacson said that while he did not hear past or present DPWH officials speak ill of Bonoan, Bonoan’s “isolated case” claim indicate he is not a good or effective leader.

“In my talks with some DPWH officials, both past and present, I didn’t hear any scathingly bad words about Sec Bonoan. But for him to claim that Bulacan is an isolated case, he doesn’t strike me as a good, effective leader of his department. Sayang,” he said on X.

In Filipino: ‘Sayang’: Lacson, Nadismaya kay DPWH Sec. Bonoan sa Pagsasabing ‘Isolated Case’ ang Katiwalian sa Bulacan

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Lacson: Follow Example of Neophyte Lawmaker Who Refused DPWH Engineer’s Bribe

Finally, an example for lawmakers to follow.

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is heartened over the example set by a neophyte congressman who rejected a bribe offer from a corrupt Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineer.

On Sunday evening, Lacson lauded Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste for his “integrity and idealism” in having the engineer arrested in a police sting operation.

“My snappy salute to neophyte Cong. Leandro Leviste, Batangas 1st District for the successful police entrapment operation against a corrupt DPWH District Engineer who tried to bribe him with up to P360M in ‘kickbacks’ from infra projects in his district. May his tribe increase,” Lacson posted on X.

In Filipino: Lacson: Tularan ang Bagitong Mambabatas na Tumanggi sa Suhol ng DPWH Engineer

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Lacson: Senators Not Beyond Suspicion in Flood Control Projects Row

Senators are not beyond suspicion in the controversy over anomalous and ghost flood control projects at this time, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said on Saturday.

Lacson noted that both his fellow senators and House members introduce insertions or amendments in the national budget bill, thus his repeated calls for transparency in the budgeting process.

“I am not saying it’s just members of the House. It is possible that some senators introduce insertions for such projects, and may even profit from the 25% share for the ‘funder’ or proponent of the insertions from the flood control project costs,” he said in Filipino in an interview on DZRH radio.

“I’ll put it this way. There may be senators and House members who may be connected to anomalous flood control projects,” he said in a separate interview on DZMM, when asked if there are senators who may have ties to the questionable projects.

In Filipino: Lacson: Hindi Ligtas ang mga Senador sa Isyu ng Anomalya sa Flood Control Projects

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Lacson Demolishes DPWH Secretary’s Claim that Ghost Projects in Bulacan an ‘Isolated Case’

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Friday demolished the claim of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan that the ghost flood control projects in Bulacan’s first engineering district are an isolated case.

Lacson said that in looking into the greed and corruption behind several defective and ghost flood control projects, he had his staff conduct case studies not only in Bulacan but also in Mindoro and other areas.

He also stressed that now is the time for the DPWH to conduct a full internal audit of its projects, starting with the flood control projects.

“When you say it is an isolated case, it sounds like a defense mechanism. It suggests you don’t intend to conduct a full-scale and comprehensive investigation. And I expected that, so I had my teams check projects in other areas,” he said in Filipino in an interview on True FM, when asked about the matter.

“I expected that ‘isolated case’ line and I can say this is not an isolated case. That is why we conducted case studies in Pampanga, Northern Luzon and other areas, just to debunk the claims that Bulacan is an isolated case,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Dinurog ang Pahayag ng DPWH Secretary na ‘Isolated Case’ ang Ghost Projects sa Bulacan

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