Lacson: Prospective Senate Probe on May 13 Shooting Should Focus on Remedial Measures

Any prospective investigation by the Senate into the shooting incident inside its premises last May 13 should focus on remedial measures rather than criminal liability, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Friday.

Lacson said law enforcement agencies already probing the incident should handle the criminal investigation, adding it would be awkward for the Senate to investigate itself.

“I will suggest that we let the National Bureau of Investigation or Philippine National Police, or even the Department of Justice, do the investigation. Limit the Committee of the Whole Inquiry’s inquiry into coming up with remedial legislation or administrative remedies so there will be no repeat of what happened last May 13. We should not interfere in the aspect of who is at fault or who should face charges,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on True FM.

In Filipino: Lacson: Posibleng Imbestigasyon ng Senado sa Pamamaril Noong Mayo 13, Dapat Tumutok sa Remedial Measures

Continue reading “Lacson: Prospective Senate Probe on May 13 Shooting Should Focus on Remedial Measures”

Lacson: Lack of NBI-OSAA Coordination Led to Senate Shooting Incident

The shooting incident inside the Senate last May 13 could have been avoided had the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) properly communicated and coordinated, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Friday.

Lacson said NBI agents were stationed at the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) compound where the Senate is located, upon the request of GSIS General Manager Jose “Wick” Veloso.

“As far as the operational aspect of what happened is concerned, if there had been coordination or communication between the two sides, the shooting could have been avoided,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino, in an interview on True FM.

In Filipino: Lacson: Kawalan ng Koordinasyon ng NBI at OSAA, Ugat ng Insidente ng Pamamaril sa Senado

Continue reading “Lacson: Lack of NBI-OSAA Coordination Led to Senate Shooting Incident”

Lacson Cites Procedural Lapses in Senate Motions on Contempt, Rules Change

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Tuesday raised concerns over “procedurally infirm” motions made on the Senate floor shortly after the change of leadership in the chamber last Monday.

Lacson questioned the move to cite in contempt of the Senate the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents who pursued Sen. Ronald dela Rosa through the Senate hallways Monday – and a separate move to amend the Senate rules without referring it first to the Committee on Rules.

“Procedurally incorrect or infirm ang ating ginawa. Kaya ko lang pino-point out para i-correct lang natin ang ating sarili (What was done was procedurally incorrect or infirm. I am pointing it out so we can correct it in the future),” he said in his manifestation at Tuesday’s regular session.

In Filipino: Lacson, Tinukoy ang mga Procedural Lapses sa Senate Motions Ukol sa Contempt, Pagbabago ng mga Alituntunin

Continue reading “Lacson Cites Procedural Lapses in Senate Motions on Contempt, Rules Change”

Lacson: Senate Leadership Change was ‘Ugly’ Regardless of Political Side

Regardless of what one’s political side or persuasion may be, the leadership change at the Senate on Monday was ugly, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Tuesday.

Lacson said that while he understood the reason for the now-majority’s surprise move, the accompanying drama – including Sen. Ronald dela Rosa’s claim of being pursued and “wrestled” by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) – was an unpleasant sight.

He also said Sen. Lorna Regina Legarda, who replaced him as Senate President Pro Tempore after Monday’s leadership change, could have at least informed the then majority, or then Senate President Vicente Sotto III, of her decision.

“Any way you look at it, regardless of your political persuasion, what happened on Monday was ugly. It was an unpleasant sight,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: ‘Pangit’ ang Leadership Change sa Senado, Anuman ang Panig sa Pulitika

Continue reading “Lacson: Senate Leadership Change was ‘Ugly’ Regardless of Political Side”

Lacson Warns: Chinese Sleeper Agents, PLA Members Already in PH

Chinese “sleeper agents” and even operatives from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) are already embedded in the Philippines to engage in espionage, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson pressed the concerned government agencies to conduct continuous follow-up operations against those arrested in earlier anti-espionage operations.

“The whole network of espionage operations must be dismantled or at least decimated to a large degree kasi agents come and go. Inaresto mo, may papalit diyan. And I have on good information na maraming sleeper agents, even regular members of PLA na nandito. Widespread eh (The whole network of espionage operations must be dismantled or at least decimated to a large degree because agents come and go. You arrest one, another takes his/her place. And I have it on good information that there are sleeper agents and even regular members of the PLA who are here, they are widespread),” he said at the hearing of the Senate defense committee, which tackled anti-espionage bills, including Lacson’s Senate Bill 33, an act penalizing espionage and other similar offenses against national security.

In Filipino: Babala ni Lacson: Chinese Sleeper Agents, Miyembro ng PLA, Nasa Pilipinas na

Continue reading “Lacson Warns: Chinese Sleeper Agents, PLA Members Already in PH”