Tag: Office of the Ombudsman

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Lacson: Marcoleta Plunder Case Could Lead to a ‘Reverse Trial’

The plunder case lodged against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta could turn into a “reverse trial” with prosecutors merely sitting back while the respondent argues against the evidence that he himself placed on record, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.

Lacson noted that Marcoleta effectively made an “admission against interest” on television by acknowledging that he received cash donations for his senatorial campaign while serving as a congressman, yet failed to disclose them in his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE).

“REVERSE TRIAL: The prosecutor may just sit and watch with folded arms while the respondent argues against himself and the damning evidence that he himself presented in plain view of all the witnesses who watched his ‘admission against interest’ on national TV,” Lacson said on X.

In Filipino: Lacson: Plunder Case ni Marcoleta, Maaaring Mauwi sa Isang ‘Reverse Trial’

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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: Blue Ribbon to Transmit Evidence to Ombudsman, DOJ

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is to transmit to the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman the evidence it has so far gathered in its investigation into the flood control mess, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Panel Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson said the pieces of evidence – including documents, testimonies and transcripts – are now a matter of public record after he cited them in his privilege speech Tuesday.

“Moving forward, I ordered the preparation of a transmittal letter to the Office of the Ombudsman to give all pieces of evidence – documentary, testimonial, and transcripts. It is now a matter of public record as I cited them in my privilege speech,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino at the Kapihan sa Senado forum.

In Filipino: Lacson: Blue Ribbon, Ipapasa Na ang Ebidensya sa Ombudsman, DOJ

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Lacson to Present Flood Control Progress Report in Privilege Speech

Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is set to present the panel’s Chairman’s Progress Report on the flood control scandal in a privilege speech when the Senate resumes session in May.

Lacson said this will pave the way for the resumption of hearings on the flood control mess, as the partial committee report has yet to secure the needed signatures for filing and sponsorship in plenary.

“I will present it via a privilege speech entitled ‘The Chairman’s FCP Progress Report.’ At least kung privilege speech, since ayaw magpirma ng ibang members, I don’t have to consult them (Other committee members do not seem keen on signing the partial report. If I present it via a privilege speech, I would not need to consult them),” he said.

In Filipino: Lacson, Maghahain ng Flood Control Progress Report sa Privilege Speech

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Lacson: Blue Ribbon Panel Pushing Ban on Allocables and Leadership Fund

Abolish the system of allocables and the “leadership fund” from the national budget, strengthen transparency in the budget process, and expand the powers of the Office of the Ombudsman to pursue corruption cases.

Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Tuesday that these are among the emerging recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Committee’s probe into anomalous flood control projects.

These are aside from the Blue Ribbon Committee’s hearings being instrumental in the ongoing preliminary investigations of the Department of Justice and the Ombudsman into key figures involved in the scandal – including former and incumbent lawmakers – as well as the trial happening at the Sandiganbayan, he emphasized.

Lacson pointed out that “almost all the recommendations in the partial committee report have already been overtaken by events as they are already being undertaken and in fact the said preliminary investigations are nearing completion if not completed already.”

“(Kasama sa rekomendasyon ng komite ang) ibawal ang allocables at leadership fund. Ito ang reporma tungkol sa budget. Tapos gawing transparent, of course ginawa namin sa 2026 budget, transparent ang entire budgeting process (Among the committee’s recommendations are to ban allocables and the leadership fund as part of reforms in the budgeting system. And make the crafting of the budget transparent, similar to what we did for the 2026 General Appropriations Act),” Lacson said in an interview on DZBB radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Blue Ribbon Panel, Itinutulak ang Pagbabawal sa Allocables at Leadership Fund

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