Tag: ICI

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Lacson: ICI Commissioner Fajardo’s Resignation Stresses Urgency to Pass IPC Measure

The resignation of Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) Commissioner Rossana Fajardo further stresses the urgency to pass a measure creating an Independent People’s Commission (IPC) that will succeed and institutionalize the ICI, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said over the weekend.

Lacson said that while the ICI has been very helpful in gathering information that may lead to the prosecution and arrest of those involved in anomalous flood control projects, it is still an ad hoc body and is not permanent.

“The bill creating the IPC must be passed to institutionalize the function of the ICI and make it part of the law of the land. The ICI is an ad hoc body and is not permanent; it needs a mandate,” he said in Filipino and English in an interview on DWIZ radio late Saturday.

In Filipino: Lacson, Iginiit ang Pagmamadaling Maipasa ang Panukalang IPC Matapos ang Pagbibitiw ni ICI Commissioner Fajardo

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Lacson: Gov’t Must Not Waver in War vs Infrastructure Corruption

The government must not waver in its enthusiasm to fight the corruption behind anomalous infrastructure projects – including through a proposed Independent People’s Commission (IPC) as a potential successor to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Monday.

Lacson said the ICI, despite its limited powers, has managed to flush out useful information and complement the Ombudsman and Department of Justice in building solid cases against those responsible.

“I wonder why Malacanang’s enthusiasm is lost all of a sudden. I still believe that the ICI is serving its purpose in flushing out useful information, to say the least, for the Ombudsman and DOJ to proceed with their preliminary investigation and come up with solid cases against those responsible in the plunder of public funds,” he said.

“This, even when Congress has taken positive steps to follow the lead of the President in getting to the bottom of the unprecedented infrastructure anomalies never unearthed before by any of the past administrations,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Hindi Dapat Manghina ang Gobyerno sa Laban vs Korapsyon sa Inprastraktura

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We’re Getting There: Lacson to Fully Support Efforts Toward Logical Conclusion in Flood Control Mess Probe

We’re getting there, so let’s keep pushing to achieve a logical conclusion to the flood control project mess.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed this on Friday after the Independent Commission for Infrastructure and the Department of Public Works and Highways recommended to the Ombudsman the filing of graft, plunder and bribery charges against former Speaker Martin Romualdez and ex-Rep. Elizaldy Co.

“We’re getting there. We are beginning to see the fruits of our collective labor. But make no mistake: the road ahead is long, and we must sustain our efforts until we reach the logical conclusion: the prosecution, conviction, and jailing of those involved. This can be done only through the gathering and presentation of evidence,” said Lacson, who chairs the Blue Ribbon Committee looking into the corruption behind substandard and ghost flood control projects.

In Filipino: We’re Getting There: Lacson, Todo Suporta sa Pagsisikap para sa Logical Conclusion sa Isyu ng Flood Control

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Lacson: Reinforcing ICI, Whole-of-Government Approach Needed vs Widening Infra Corruption Mess

With the number of anomalous infrastructure projects linked to Discaya-owned firms continuing to pile up, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Monday called for a whole-of-government approach, including reinforcing the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) with adequate personnel and logistical resources, to address the deepening mess.

Lacson cited the uncertainty felt by residents of Provident Village in Marikina City over seeming defects in the Marikina dike, whose construction is being handled by Discaya-owned firms.

“At the rate the number of substandard, uncompleted and even ghost infrastructure projects being attributed to the Discaya-owned firms keeps piling up, the ICI may not be able to cope with the complexity and enormity of the problem at hand,” Lacson said.

“Hence, the national government, including Congress must reinforce the Commission with adequate personnel and logistical resources, even additional legal power and authority by way of legislation so they can accomplish their assigned tasks,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Pagpalakas sa ICI, Whole-of-Government Approach Kailangan vs Lumalalang Katiwalian sa Infra Projects

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Lacson Pushes Retribution and Restitution for Anomalous Infra Projects

“Retribution plus restitution” should be the formula of the government in dealing with erring officials and contractors behind anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.

Lacson said the government – and taxpayers – can potentially get back an initial P26 billion from contracted flood control ghost projects between 2023 and 2025 worth P629 billion, with 80% possible restitution in exchange for shortened jail terms after conviction of those involved.

“A simple extrapolation using the initial finding of 421 contracted ghost flood control projects out of the 8,000 (5.26%) so far inspected by the AFP/PNP/DepDev composite team as standard, with an aggregate total amount of at least P629B worth of flood control CONTRACTED projects in 2023-2025, if all those responsible – contractors, politicians and Department of Public Works and Highways officials – will return just 80% of their loot, after a plea bargaining agreement in exchange for shortened jail terms, easily the Filipino people can recover at least P26 billion,” Lacson said.

“Imagine the hundreds of billions in taxpayers’ money that we may be able to recover out of all the other similarly corrupted infrastructure projects,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Itinulak ang ‘Retribution and Restitution’ Formula para sa Maanomalyang Infra Projects

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