Tag: Jinggoy Estrada

Lacson: Ombudsman’s Flood Control Charges Vindicate Blue Ribbon Probe

The planned filing of plunder and other charges by the Office of the Ombudsman against personalities linked to the flood control mess vindicate the findings of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson said the Blue Ribbon panel’s investigation under his chairmanship had gathered key evidence and transmitted it to the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice.

“Ombudsman (Jesus Crispin) Remulla’s announcement that plunder, malversation and other cases will soon be filed with the Sandiganbayan against the same government officials implicated in the Blue Ribbon Committee’s partial report on the flood control anomaly is a vindication of our findings and recommendations,” he said on X.

In Filipino: Lacson: Kasong Flood Control na Ihahain ng Ombudsman, Nagpapatunay sa Blue Ribbon Probe

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Lacson: Filipinos’ Loyalty Must Be to the Philippines, Not Other Nations

Filipinos’ loyalty must be to the Philippines, not to other nations.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson emphasized this on Thursday as he again criticized the recent actions of an elected Philippine lawmaker, which he said appeared to serve foreign interests.

“We should love the Philippines more than any country. Regardless of what is at stake, we are Filipinos. We must look after the Philippines’ interests, not those of other countries,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino, in an interview on DZRH radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Katapatan ng Mga Pilipino ay Dapat sa Pilipinas, at Hindi sa Ibang Bansa

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Blue Ribbon Committee Hearing on Flood Control Projects (Nov. 14, 2025)

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson’s Opening Statement at the Hearing:

Before we proceed to the substantive discussions, the Committee will deal first with some administrative matters for the record:

All members of the House of Representatives implicated by the Discaya spouses, as well as Cong. Martin Romualdez and Cong. Eric Yap cited by Mr. Orly Guteza, were invited to attend this hearing. Incumbent Congressmen were invited through a letter dated 12 November 2025 to Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy of the House of Representatives.

According to Speaker Dy, the members will not be appearing before the Committee today in order to avoid any possible prejudice to the ongoing investigation and eventual findings of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), given that the invited members have already submitted themselves to its jurisdiction and proceedings.

Mr. Zaldy Co was similarly invited to appear before this Committee—however, his lawyer, Atty. Ruy Alberto Rondain, replied that Mr. Co is unable to attend, citing that he is still overseas due to medical reasons.

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Lacson in ‘Sagasa Mode,’ Waiting for ‘Receipts’ on Flood Control Project Commissions to Senators

After confirming multimillion-peso budget insertions in 2023 and 2025 tied to Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is now waiting for “receipts” or proof of commissions they allegedly got from flood control projects.

Lacson said Friday that the “receipts” will aid in crafting stronger anti-corruption and accountability measures, as well as help the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and other prosecution bodies like the Ombudsman or Department of Justice.

In radio and TV interviews Friday morning, Lacson said he will ask Senate President Vicente Sotto III to allow ex-Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer Brice Hernandez to leave the Senate premises under escort, to produce these “receipts.” Hernandez had given details linking the two senators and a member of the House of Representatives to the insertions and claimed they got 30% commissions from flood control projects.

In Filipino: Lacson, ‘Sagasa Mode’ Na, Naghihintay ng ‘Resibo’ sa Flood Control Komisyon ng mga Senador

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Lacson: Senators Estrada, Villanueva Not Cleared of Budget Insertion Row

Their accuser may have shown a “selective” memory, but Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada are by no means cleared from the issue of millions of pesos in insertions in the General Appropriations Acts (GAAs) for 2023 and 2025.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed this Thursday evening as he said allowing the two to face their accusers does not mean they are cleared.

“By any measure, Senators Villanueva and Estrada have not been cleared, at least on the issue of budget insertions involving infrastructure projects in Bulacan worth P600M and P355M respectively, as alleged by Engr Brice Hernandez,” he said on X.

In Filipino: Lacson: Hindi Pa Lusot Sina Sen. Estrada at Villanueva sa Isyu ng Budget Insertions

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