In an interview on DWIZ, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
* DPWH’s ‘addendum’ in the 2021 budget
* Ombudsman Martires’ policies on SALN, lifestyle check
QUOTES and NOTES:
Continue reading “#PINGterview: Mahiwagang ‘Addendum’ ng DPWH sa 2021 Budget”
It’s about time. I can only hope that this time around, the investigation will bear fruit and find those concerned liable and suffer the consequences of their misdeeds in taking advantage of the COVID-19 crisis for self-aggrandizement.
My wish is that the outcome would be unlike the agricultural smuggling case I personally filed against Faeldon et.al, which continues to languish in the dustbin of the Ombudsman for an unusually long period of time.
*****
In an interview, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– up to P2M ‘admission fee’ and P30K daily ‘board and lodging’ at Bilibid Hospital?
– ‘inconsistencies’ in statements of some BuCor officials
– preventive suspension of BuCor officials by the Ombudsman
QUOTES and NOTES:
Continue reading “#PingSays: Up to P2 million ‘Admission Fee’ for Bilibid Hospital? | Sept. 10, 2019”
In an interview on DZBB/GMA News TV, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– Nationalism amid West Philippine Sea row
– On possibly bigger graft case at PhilHealth
– Corruption at the Bureau of Customs
Quotes from the interview…
Continue reading “Interview on DZBB/GMA News TV: WPS Issue a Matter of Nationalism | June 30, 2019”
In an interview on ANC, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– reported arrest of ‘person of interest’ in the uploading of ‘tunay na narco list’ video
– Senate Bill 2219, encouraging public participation in budgeting process
– PRRD’s taking up WPS issue with Chinese President Xi
– illegal Chinese workers and SMEs
Quotes from the interview…
Continue reading “Interview on ANC | May 2, 2019”
Mr. President, I’m not interpellating on the budget of the Offce of the President. This is just a very quick manifestation and I’d like to take advantage of the presence of Executive Secretary Medialdea. I would like to issue an appeal to him not to endorse the anticipated recommendation of Secretary of DBM Ben Diokno to call for a special session.
Because looking at the schedule, Mr. President, after this agency, the Office of the President, we still have to tackle some big ones. Department of Tourism, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Justice – at least the Bureau of Immigration, Commission on Audit, Comelec, Ombudsman, DOH, DND, DILG. And even if the President calls for a special session, even if we extend our session for another five days, for another week, it is impossible, Mr. President, for us to enact the budget bill before the year ends.
So I’d like to again reiterate of course with the concurrence of this body, I’d like to make that appeal. Quoting Jesus Christ: ‘the Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak,’ Mr. President.
Thank you Mr. President, and may we have the commitment of the Executive Secretary… that he will not endorse and he will block, as a matter of fact, Mr. President?
****
Kailangan na ring mag-imbestiga ang Ombudsman sa maeskandalong pagkakabunyag sa ‘pork insertions’ ng mga kongresistang kadikit ng kasalukuyang pamunuan sa Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso.
Ito ang naging mensahe ni Senador Panfilo Lacson, makaraang inguso ni House Majority Leader Rolanda Andaya Jr. ang isang contractor na umano’y nakakopo na sa mga proyekto sa susunod na taon kahit hindi pa aprubado ang 2019 national budget.
Sa kanyang Twitter post, inihayag ni Lacson na puwede nang manghimasok ang Ombudsman, bukod pa sa maaring gawin ng Kongreso matapos ang pagbubunyag ni Andaya.
“Expose pa more! A single contractor bagging 30 flood control projects worth billions of pesos calls for a congressional inquiry/Ombudsman investigation. Thank God I found an unlikely ‘ally’ in Cong. Andaya,” saad ni Lacson.
Related: Lacson: Time for Ombudsman to Step into ‘Pork’ Insertion Mess
Continue reading “Ping: Ombudsman Puwede Nang Imbestigahan ang ‘Pork’ Insertions”
With exposes on “pork” in the proposed P3.7-trillion budget for 2019 now coming out left and right, it may be time for new Ombudsman Samuel Martires to step into the picture.
Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said this Tuesday as he thanked an unlikely ally for revealing that a single contractor hogged no less 30 flood control projects worth billions of pesos.
Lacson said both the House of Representatives and the Office of the Ombudsman can conduct their own probes into the revelations.
“Expose pa more! A single contractor bagging 30 flood control projects worth billions of pesos calls for a congressional inquiry/Ombudsman investigation. Thank God I found an unlikely ‘ally’ in Cong. Andaya,” Lacson said in a post on his Twitter account.
Related: Ping: Ombudsman Puwede Nang Imbestigahan ang ‘Pork’ Insertions
Continue reading “Lacson: Time for Ombudsman to Step into ‘Pork’ Insertion Mess”
Republic Act 11059 establishes a retirement benefit system in the Office of the Ombudsman. Sen. Lacson’s Senate Bill 1638, which was consolidated into Senate Bill 1762, is part of the new law.
In 2012, I recall being the first one to question the issuance of DBM Circular 541 during the budget deliberations on general principles of the 2013 GAA. I argued then that savings cannot be declared in the middle of the year. That early, I already sensed something ominous with that move of the DBM.
As it turned out, the unused appropriations in the first semester of the 2013 national budget were pooled to constitute what was later known as funds for the DAP. Worse, these proclaimed savings were realigned to fund additional pork barrel allocations of several senators and congressmen, further aggravated by the ill-timed conviction of the late Chief Justice Renato Corona by the Senate acting as an impeachment court, and in direct contravention of Art. VI, Sec. 25, Paragraph 5 of the 1987 Constitution, which clearly proscribes cross-border realignment.
While I feel for the former president, the question on his possible culpability on the actions taken by his DBM secretary will largely depend on the documents and paper trail made available to the Ombudsman prosecutors to prove or disprove his direct or indirect participation.
What is clear, though, is that former President Aquino did not pocket any DAP money, hence the case filed is for usurpation of legislative powers and not violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
*****
At the Kapihan sa Senado forum, Sen. Lacson answers questions on:
– Ombudsman’s resolution on P6.4B shabu shipment
– PDEA’s releasing of narco list
– Assessment of the government’s anti-drug war
– Charter change and shift to federalism
– CJ Sereno’s impeachment
– PH-Kuwait ties
– Blue Ribbon committee issues
– Senate transfer
– Senate leadership change
Quotes from the interview…
Continue reading “Kapihan sa Senado forum | May 3, 2018”
In 2011, Sen. Lacson exposed irregularities in the P105-million purchase of helicopters by the Philippine National Police and initiated a Senate investigation into it.
“By intentionally misrepresenting the helicopters they were selling as brand new and likewise, by intentionally accepting the same as such, both MAPTRA and the PNP may have entered into an anomalous contract which not only gave unwarranted benefits or advantage to a party but also one which is manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to the government in violation of Section 3 (E) and (G) of Republic Act 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.”
Related:
Arroyos’ used choppers sold to PNP in 2009
Lacson initiates probe on P105-M PNP chopper purchase
SC affirms Ombudsman dismissal of PNP execs in mess (Ombudsman website)
In an interview on DZIQ, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– Charter change
– PCSO’s STL being used as front
– Atio Castillo hazing death
– Message to the public
Related:
Senators united stance on the issue of Charter change
PCSO’s problems with illegal gambling operators
Sponsorship Speech for Committee Report 232 and Senate Bill 1662
Quotes from the interview… Continue reading “Interview on DZIQ | Jan. 26, 2018”
In an interview on ANC, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– Pulse Asia survey on the war vs drugs
– PDEA’s lead role in anti-drug war
– On the Senate holding impeachment trials
Quotes from the interview… Continue reading “Interview on ANC | Oct. 17, 2017”
In an ambush interview, Sen. Lacson answers questions on:
– alleged extortion try on former Sen. Estrada
– criticism on the war vs drugs
– inviting Church to give info on killings
Quotes from the interview… Continue reading “#PingSays: On alleged extort try on ex-Sen Estrada, war on drugs, invitation to Church on EJKs, BOC corruption | Oct. 3, 2017”
From the Inquirer: An umbrella organization of agriculture industry groups has lauded the economic sabotage complaint filed against former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon and several others for their alleged involvement in rice smuggling. Continue reading “Agri group backs raps filed by Ping vs BOC [Inquirer]”
Dahil sa pagpapalusot ng mga nakumpiskang ipinuslit na bigas papasok sa loob ng bansa, personal na sinampahan ni Senador Panfilo Lacson ng kasong economic sabotage sa Office of the Ombudsman si dating Bureau of Customs (BOC) Chief Nicanor Faeldon.
Ang pagsasampa ng naturang kaso ay bunsod na rin ng mahigit P34 milyon na halaga ng bigas na una nang nasabat sa pantalan ng Cagayan De Oro City ngayong tayon dahil sa kakulangan ng import permits pero mahimalang naipalabas sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Faeldon sa BOC.
Related: First of many cases: Lacson hales Faeldon and company before Ombudsman over rice smuggling
Continue reading “Faeldon, Sinampal ni Lacson ng Economic Sabotage sa Ombudsman”
Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson haled ex-Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon and several others before the Office of the Ombudsman Thursday for economic sabotage, in the wake of a rice smuggling case in Cagayan de Oro earlier this year.
Lacson said this is only the first of several complaints to be filed against Faeldon, adding he and his staff are working on similar cases based on documents they had obtained.
Related: Faeldon sinampal ni Lacson ng economic sabotage sa Ombudsman
The complaint stemmed from the entry of rice worth some PHP34.043 million, without the required import permits, earlier this year. It cites violations of:
– RA 10845, Sections 3a and 3c (agricultural smuggling)
– RA 3019, Sections 3e and 3j (graft and corruption)
– Grave Misconduct
Respondents:
– Ex-BOC commissioner Nicanor Faeldon
– NFA Administrator Jason Aquino
– Tomas Alcid, former district collector at Cagayan de Oro port
– Geniefelle Lagmay, Customs liaison officer to NFA of the Office of the BOC Commissioner
– Directors/officers of Cebu Lite Trading Inc., including Filomena Lim, Lucio Roger Lim Jr., Rowena Lim, Joselito Lopez, Josephine Rizalde, and Ambrosio Ursal Jr.
Sen. Lacson also sought the preventive suspension of Aquino, Alcid and Lagmay.
Continue reading “At a Glance: Sen. Lacson’s Complaint Before the Ombudsman”
“May susunod pa. Mahirap magipon ng lalo sa BOC nawawala ang dokumento at ibang active BOC officials and personnel medyo atubili magbigay ng affidavit. Dito may 2 testigo taga-roon.”
In an interview on DZBB, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– the Sept 25 hearing on the fatal hazing of Horacio Castillo III
– what Mark Taguba may reveal at the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on corruption at the Bureau of Customs
– cashless society to eliminate corruption
– wiretapping of suspected drug personalities
Quotes from the interview…
Continue reading “Interview on DZBB | Sept. 24, 2017”
Sa panayam , nagbigay ng pahayag si Sen. Lacson sa:
– pagsalakay ng mga pulis sa Ozamiz kung saan napatay si Mayor Parojinog
– kaso laban kay Sen. Honasan
– halalan sa barangay
Quotes from the interview… Continue reading “Ozamiz, payola sa BOC, kaso laban kay Sen. Honasan, at halalan sa barangay | Agosto 1, 2017”
Nothing to be surprised about.
This was how Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson on Wednesday described the junking by the House of Representatives of the impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. Continue reading “Junking of Impeach Raps vs Mercy Par for the Course”
