Sen. Lacson Chairs the Hearing for the 2021 Budgets of OPAPP, SPDA, MinDA

Sen. Lacson chaired the hearing for the 2021 budgets of the Southern Philippines Development Authority, Mindanao Development Authority, and the Office of the Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process.

At the start of the hearing, Sen. Lacson noted all three agencies were recipients of congressional initiatives initiated by his subcommittee and eventually included in the 2020 GAA. “Unfortunately as we all know, medyo tinamaan tayo ng COVID, so ang iba nabawasan, ang iba di na-release at all.”

Meanwhile, Sen. Lacson stressed the importance of ensuring regular funding for the OPAPP’s normalization program, as part of government’s long-term commitment to the peace process. The OPAPP aims to decommission 40,000 combatants by 2022, according to OPAPP Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. “Since this is a program, dapat recurring budget ito under OPAPP because this is a long-term commitment… We cannot renege on this commitment. Otherwise sayang lang lahat na effort sa peace process natin especially with the passage of the BARMM organic act. Medyo kailangan pangatawanan natin ito,” Sen. Lacson said.

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Interview on DWIZ | Jan. 19, 2019

In an interview on DWIZ, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– need for transparency in the bicameral conference committee on the 2019 budget
– DBM Sec. Diokno’s claim that deleting P75B from DPWH budget may harm economy
– US NGO’s claim that PH is a ‘war zone in disguise’
– Sri Lankan president’s reported intent to ‘copy” PH war vs drugs
– ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law and efforts to reach out to Nur Misuari
– Sen. Pacquiao’s bout vs Adrien Broner

Quotes from the interview… Continue reading “Interview on DWIZ | Jan. 19, 2019”

#PingSays: Tens of billions in taxpayers’ money lost to right-of-way mess, ‘food crisis’, bombings | Sept. 3, 2018

In an interview, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– mulitbillion-peso wastage of taxpayers’ money due to RROW issues
– need for government to shift focus to the economy
– possible food crisis
– on Pagcor action on PH offshore gambling operations
– recent bombings

Quotes from the interview…  Continue reading “#PingSays: Tens of billions in taxpayers’ money lost to right-of-way mess, ‘food crisis’, bombings | Sept. 3, 2018”

BOL at martial law, ‘di garantiya vs karahasan sa Mindanao

Hindi uubra para masawata ang karahasan sa Mindanao ang napapabalitang pagpapalawig pa sa implementasyon ng martial law at maging ang kakasabatas pa lamang na Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

Ito ang naging tugon ni Senador at dating Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Panfilo Lacson na kasalukuyan din na Chairman ng Senate Committee on Public Order and Illegal Drugs nang tanungin siya ng mga mamamahayag sa Senado tungkol sa naturang usapin.

“The recent bombing incident in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat suggests that neither martial law nor the Bangsamoro Organic Law could guarantee peace in Mindanao,” banggit ni Lacson.

Related:
On the bombing incident in Sultan Kudarat
Lacson Bill Gives Government Stronger Teeth vs Terrorism
Continue reading “BOL at martial law, ‘di garantiya vs karahasan sa Mindanao”

Lacson Bill Gives Government Stronger Teeth vs Terrorism

The government may soon gain a much-needed boost in its fight against terrorism, with a bill filed by Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson.

Senate Bill 1956, the proposed “Anti-Terrorism Act of 2018,” enhances the Human Security Act of 2007 with provisions on foreign terrorists and additional predicate crimes.

“While an anti-terror law in itself cannot solve the problem of terrorism, an intensified one can however give the government and the law enforcement agencies the much-needed tool in dealing with the emerging threats of terrorism,” said Lacson, who headed the Philippine National Police from 1999 to 2001 and who played a key role in crafting the Human Security Act of 2007 (Republic Act 9372).

Related:
On the bombing incident in Sultan Kudarat
BOL at martial law, ‘di garantiya vs karahasan sa Mindanao
Continue reading “Lacson Bill Gives Government Stronger Teeth vs Terrorism”