Tag: Martin Romualdez

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Lacson: Romualdez Should Have Heeded Blue Ribbon Invitations to Refute Budget ‘Mangling’ Allegations

Former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez should have heeded invitations to attend the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s hearings last November and January to refute allegations linking him to the “mangling” of the 2025 budget, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson said the committee issued at least two official invitations to Romualdez to testify on the budget controversy, which has been linked to anomalous flood control projects and other irregularities.

“The Blue Ribbon Committee gave the former speaker at least two chances through official invitations to testify under oath and public scrutiny to what may be his strong argument against allegations of masterminding the ‘mangling beyond recognition’ of the 2025 national budget during the bicameral conference, which he now claims to have been made by only two people – then SP (Senate President Francis) Chiz Escudero and ex Cong and House Appropriations Chairman (Elizaldy) Zaldy Co,” Lacson said in a post on X.

In Filipino: Lacson: Dapat Sinunod ni Romualdez ang Mga Imbitasyon ng Blue Ribbon para Sagutin ang Alegasyon sa Pagkalikot sa 2025 Badyet

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Lacson Plans to Invite Co, Ex-Soldiers to Next Blue Ribbon Hearing

Once its partial committee report on the flood control scandal is formally filed, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee may invite to its next hearing captured former Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co – along with Orly Guteza and the former soldiers who claimed to have delivered P805 billion in alleged kickbacks from anomalous flood projects to various personalities on Co’s orders.

Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon panel Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Friday that the testimonies of Guteza and the ex-soldiers are “interconnected” with Co.

“Once Co is in the Philippines and the court allows it, I plan to have him attend the hearing along with Guteza and the ex-soldiers so we will find out who is truthful, who is telling half-truths, and who is lying,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.

In Filipino: Lacson Plano Imbitahan si Co, Mga Ex-Sundalo sa Susunod na Blue Ribbon Hearing

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Lacson Scrutinizes Alleged Cash Delivery Scheme Involving Ex-Military Men

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson has begun scrutinizing an alleged scheme involving former military personnel who allegedly delivered large sums of cash to ranking public officials, supposedly upon the instructions of ex-Rep. Elizaldy Co.

Lacson, who initiated the preliminary checks ahead of the formal filing of a Senate resolution directing the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to investigate the matter, noted two key areas that need further checking.

“We will evaluate first the source of information, which in this case are the 18 alleged Marine personnel who appeared at a press conference last Tuesday. Second is the reliability or credibility of the information itself, meaning the content of their affidavit,” said Lacson, who chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

In Filipino: Lacson, Sinusuri ang Umano’y Cash Delivery Scheme na Kinasasangkutan ng mga Ex-Militar

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Lacson: Ex-DPWH Chief Bonoan, South Forbes Property May Be Focus of Next Blue Ribbon Hearing

Unresolved issues involving former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan, as well as the acquisition of a house and lot at 30 Tamarind Road in South Forbes in Makati City in 2023 where contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II was involved, may be the focus of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s next hearing on the flood control mess, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said.

Lacson said Bonoan still has much to explain, including a seeming “pattern” of wrong grid coordinates for flood control projects in the report Bonoan submitted to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“We can focus the next hearing on Bonoan to tackle other issues he can clarify. He is in the country so he can address the issues involving him,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Ex-DPWH Chief Bonoan, South Forbes Property Maaaring Maging Sentro ng Susunod na Blue Ribbon Hearing

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Lacson to Imee: Evidence, Not Noise, Should Drive Flood Control Probe

Evidence, not noise, should drive the investigation into the corruption behind anomalous flood control projects.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed this on Wednesday as he shut down Sen. Maria Imelda Josefa Remedios Romualdez “Imee” Marcos’ repeated personal attacks against him – while unearthing evidence that could link her cousin, former Speaker Martin Romualdez, to the Discayas.

Lacson cited persistent reports that the former Speaker bought a house and lot in a plush subdivision in Makati City, using the Discayas as front in the said sale. If verified to be true, he said this could possibly establish a direct connection between the former Speaker and the Discayas.

“This is what I’m advising Senator Imee Marcos. Noise does not convict, neither does it indict even who may be perceived as the most guilty in the flood control projects saga. Only evidence does. So if Sen. Marcos has evidence to contribute to implicate her cousin, she should take part in Monday’s hearing. No one will stop her on what she wants to do,” Lacson said in English and Filipino at the Kapihan sa Senado media forum.

In Filipino: Lacson kay Imee: Ebidensiya, Hindi Ingay, ang Dapat Magtulak sa Imbestigasyon sa Flood Control

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