Ang tama ay IPAGLABAN. Ang mali ay LABANAN.
From Ben Kritz’s column in The Manila Times: Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson (said that) the government needs to take decisive and perhaps even “extreme” action to come to grips with skyrocketing oil prices. Rather than just leave it at that, Lacson went on to specify the legal tools and funds that are already in place to do that.
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
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
Continue reading “Lacson: Senators Estrada, Villanueva Not Cleared of Budget Insertion Row”
From the Manila Bulletin: Lacson, former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, said he is concerned Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, could have the resources to run for congresswoman or even higher office and eventually have the resources to run for Congress or even higher office and have access to sensitive documents in government.
Sen. Lacson is part of the Philippine delegation that participated in the 141st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and related meetings in Belgrade, Serbia. Other members of the Philippine delegation include Senate President Tito Sotto, Ralph Recto, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Franklin Drilon, Imee Marcos, Nancy Binay, Sherwin Gatchalian, Bato dela Rosa, Joel Villanueva and Sonny Angara; and Reps. Ferdinand Hernandez and Carlos Zarate.
MORE NOTES:
Continue reading “AT WORK: At the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s 141st Assembly in Serbia”