Tag: Ombudsman

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Lacson Readies Blue Ribbon Chairman’s Progress Report, Eyes ‘Faceoff’ with Former Speaker, Zaldy Co, Ex-Soldiers

Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is preparing a Chairman’s Progress Report on the flood control scandal to pave the way for the resumption of hearings and to aid case-buildup by the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman.

Lacson also said he is keen on inviting anew former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez to the committee’s next hearing – and having him join a faceoff with captured former Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co and former soldiers who claimed to have delivered kickbacks to various personalities on Co’s orders.

“We have drafted a Chairman’s Progress Report. I cannot report out the partial committee report on the Senate floor due to the lack of needed signatures. So to get it over with, I have thought of drafting the Chairman’s Progress Report, which has a precedent,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio Sunday.

“We owe it to the Filipino people. The Blue Ribbon Committee has conducted eight hearings on the matter but has yet to come up with even a partial report,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Inihahanda ang Blue Ribbon Chairman’s Progress Report, Balak ang ‘Faceoff’ kina Dating Speaker Romualdez, Zaldy Co, at mga Dating Sundalo

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Lacson Welcomes Lifestyle Check on 26 ‘Cong-tractors’

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Friday welcomed the Office of the Ombudsman’s order for a lifestyle check on 26 “cong-tractors,” or House members allegedly involved as contractors in government projects.

Lacson said it was “well and good” that the Ombudsman had started gathering evidence on the supposed “cong-tractors,” noting the issue clearly involves conflict of interest.

“It is a good development. If the Ombudsman has names and proof, it should investigate them because that is a clear conflict of interest. Imagine, you insert projects in the budget for projects where you are the contractor,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio.

In Filipino: Lifestyle Check sa 26 ‘Cong-tractors,’ Welcome kay Lacson

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Lacson Pained Over Fate of Some Colleagues in Flood Control Mess, but Evidence Has Spoken

While seeing the fate that befell some of his colleagues in the flood control project scandal is painful, the evidence has spoken, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson, who chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, maintained that the investigation into the issue must be fair and follow where the evidence leads, and not target or cover up for anyone.

“It is not a pleasant thing to see some of our colleagues face charges or jail due to the flood control scandal. But painful as it is, I have always maintained that we will go where the evidence leads us. We will not force ourselves to look for evidence that will target certain people including our colleagues in the Senate,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.

“It is painful for me particularly, and for other senators who participate in the hearings. But we cannot do anything about it. If we will investigate mainly in aid of legislation just to cover up for some people, we might as well not investigate at all,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Masakit ang Makitang Sinapit ng Ilang Kasamahan sa Flood Control Mess, Ngunit Nagsalita Na ang Ebidensya

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Lacson: No Holiday Furlough for Discaya, 3 Former DPWH Engineers

Due to security concerns, there will be no holiday furlough for contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II and three former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineers detained in the Senate in connection with the flood control project scandal, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Tuesday.

Lacson, who also chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee probing the issue, said Senate President Vicente Sotto III approved his recommendation to deny the leave requests of Discaya and former engineers Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza and Henry Alcantara.

“I recommended to the Senate President that their request for Christmas furlough be denied mainly for security reasons, owing to the repeated media statements from Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that arrest warrants against them will be issued before Christmas,” Lacson said.

“So the risk of escape becomes greater – not to mention that it makes no sense to grant such requests for Christmas leave if indeed warrants are coming out by then,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Walang Holiday Furlough para kina Discaya, 3 Dating Inhinyero ng DPWH

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Lacson: Gov’t Must Not Waver in War vs Infrastructure Corruption

The government must not waver in its enthusiasm to fight the corruption behind anomalous infrastructure projects – including through a proposed Independent People’s Commission (IPC) as a potential successor to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Monday.

Lacson said the ICI, despite its limited powers, has managed to flush out useful information and complement the Ombudsman and Department of Justice in building solid cases against those responsible.

“I wonder why Malacanang’s enthusiasm is lost all of a sudden. I still believe that the ICI is serving its purpose in flushing out useful information, to say the least, for the Ombudsman and DOJ to proceed with their preliminary investigation and come up with solid cases against those responsible in the plunder of public funds,” he said.

“This, even when Congress has taken positive steps to follow the lead of the President in getting to the bottom of the unprecedented infrastructure anomalies never unearthed before by any of the past administrations,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Hindi Dapat Manghina ang Gobyerno sa Laban vs Korapsyon sa Inprastraktura

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