Tag: impeachment trial

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Lacson Urges Update, Expansion of COA Audit Rules on Confidential and Intelligence Funds

The Commission on Audit (COA)’s rules governing the audit of confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) should be updated and expanded to ensure greater accountability, Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson raised the need to revisit the Joint Memorandum Circular after COA auditor Roderick Wamil said that the agency’s audit of CIF is limited to a document-based compliance audit under current guidelines.

He also raised the issue of whether auditors assigned to confidential and intelligence funds should be granted the appropriate security clearance to access classified documents needed for a thorough audit.

In Filipino: Lacson, Nanawagan na I-update at Palawakin ang COA Rules sa Pag-audit ng Confidential at Intelligence Funds

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Lacson: Competent Witness on Handling Confidential and Intelligence Funds Would Benefit VP Impeachment Trial

The Impeachment Court trying the case of Vice President Sara Duterte would benefit from hearing a competent witness on the handling of confidential and intelligence funds, Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson noted that the evidence presented at Wednesday’s hearing appeared to show quarterly cash withdrawals by the Office of the Vice President, while his experience in intelligence and law enforcement suggested that such withdrawals are generally made only when operationally necessary.

“I’m wondering why neither the prosecution nor the defense is presenting a competent witness in the handling of intelligence and confidential funds. Kasi po in my previous life sa intelligence, sa law enforcement, ang natatandaan ko kasi limited ang purpose ng intelligence at confidential fund. Nagtataka ako, nakita ko ang regularity ng withdrawals ng cash parang every quarter except for Dec. 20 (I’m wondering why neither the prosecution nor the defense is presenting a competent witness in the handling of intelligence and confidential funds. In my previous life in intelligence and law enforcement, intelligence and confidential funds are limited. And I wonder why cash withdrawals are made regularly, every quarter except for Dec. 20),” he said in his manifestation.

In Filipino: Lacson: ‘Competent Witness’ sa Pangangasiwa ng Confidential at Intelligence Funds, Makabubuti sa VP Impeachment Trial

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Lacson: No Such Thing as ‘Unusual’ Transactions Under AMLA, Only Covered or Suspicious Ones

The Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) recognizes only two categories of reportable transactions – covered or suspicious – and does not define an “unusual” transaction, Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson made the clarification during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte after former Land Bank of the Philippines branch manager Nenita Camposano described as “unusual” a P37.5-million cash withdrawal from the Department of Education’s (DepEd) account.

Camposano, the prosecution’s second witness for Article I of the Articles of Impeachment, had noted that not all “unusual” transactions are flagged as suspicious or reported to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

“So wala hong (kakaiba). Suspicious lang, wala ang middle. It’s either you categorize it into covered or suspicious (So there’s no ‘unusual’ transaction. It’s either you categorize it into covered or suspicious transaction),” Lacson said.

In Filipino: Lacson: Walang ‘Unusual’ na Transaksyon sa Ilalim ng AMLA, Covered o Suspicious Lang

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Lacson: Irrelevant Questions by Some Senator-Judges Slowing VP Impeachment Trial

Irrelevant questions by some senator-judges are slowing the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, while also testing the patience of those following the proceedings, Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Friday.

Lacson said that while Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Francis Escudero has been accommodating of his fellow senator-judges out of respect, “we should likewise exercise restraint and be mature enough to discern which questions are proper.”

“With all due respect to our peers, sometimes we senator-judges are slowing down the trial. Why is it that sometimes questions irrelevant to the trial are asked? The Presiding Officer has been accommodating out of respect. But we must be mature enough to discern what clarificatory questions we can ask,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.

“Injecting issues that are not relevant to the impeachment trial causes unnecessary delays, and does not sit well with the public,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: ‘Irrelevant Questions’ ng Ilang Senator-Judge, Nagpapabagal sa VP Impeachment Trial

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Lacson: OVP Request for Special Food Arrangements May Violate Procurement Law

Senator-Judge and Senate Committee on Accounts Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson strongly opposed Vice President Sara Duterte’s request for special food arrangements during her impeachment trial in the Senate, as it may violate the government procurement law.

Lacson also said the Senate still has about P22.6 million in unspent appropriations from the 2025 budget for the impeachment trial that may be used to provide meals for those performing official duties in connection with the proceedings, including the prosecution and defense teams.

The Vice President had written Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian requesting that the Senate shoulder the costs of food, beverage and catering services for the defense team, while requiring that these be sourced exclusively from the Office of the Vice President’s accredited caterer.

“ON OVP’S REQUEST FOR SPECIAL FOOD ARRANGEMENTS: There’s still around P22.6M out of the original P27.5M budget under the 2025 GAA available for the impeachment trial to feed and quench the thirsts of both the prosecution and defense teams, their support staff and witnesses and for other impeachment related activities. That said, we cannot pay the OVP’s caterer without violating the procurement law,” he said in a post on X.

In Filipino: Lacson: Hiling ng OVP Para sa Special Food Arrangements, Maaaring Lumabag sa Procurement Law

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