Ping Lacson Bill Updates, Expands Anti-Wiretapping Act to Cover Coups, Drugs, Money Laundering

Philippine authorities will get the much-needed added teeth to go against crimes including coup d’etat, robbery in band, highway robbery, drug-related offenses and money laundering, once a bill filed by Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is passed into law.

Lacson said that while wiretapping has been an effective tool against such “exceptional” crimes that pose a grave threat to our nation’s security, these are not covered under the present law.

“Unfortunately, there are still certain crimes that are not covered under the said exceptional cases, which put not only the lives and property of our people in paramount danger, but also pose a grave threat to our nation’s security. The peace and order situation in the country gives testament to this fact, and thus, it is imperative to revisit RA 4200 to further enhance its effectiveness,” he said in his bill titled “An Act Expanding the Scope and Coverage of Republic Act No. 4200 Otherwise Known as an Act to Prohibit and Penalize Wiretapping and Other Related Violations of the Privacy and Communication, and for Other Purposes.”

In Filipino: Panukala ni Ping Lacson, Palalakasin at Palalawakin ang Anti-Wiretapping Act Para Sakupin ang Kudeta, Droga, Money Laundering

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Ping Lacson Bills Strip Gov’t Officials, Employees of Secrecy in Bank and Foreign Currency Deposits

Government officials and employees trying to enrich themselves in office will have nowhere to hide their ill-gotten wealth as they will be stripped of secrecy rights under the laws on bank deposits as well as foreign currency deposits.

The removal of secrecy rights for public servants in both types of deposits is contained in two bills filed by Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson, a long-time enemy of graft and corruption.

Lacson, in Senate Bill 38 titled “An Act Further Strengthening the Secrecy of Bank Deposits Law, Amending for the Purpose RA 1405 Otherwise Known as the Secrecy of Bank Deposits Law as Amended,” pointed out that the 1987 Constitution itself stresses that “Public office is a public trust,” and public office thus must not be used for self-aggrandizement or for acquiring wealth by the person holding it.

“This bill seeks to exclude government officials and employees, whether elected or appointed, from the coverage of the Bank Secrecy Law to equip government authorities with the necessary tools to effectively investigate and prosecute those who misuse public office for personal gain,” he said.

In Filipino: Dalawang Panukala ni Ping Lacson, Huhubaran ang Taga-Gobyerno ng ‘Secrecy’ sa Bank at Foreign Currency Deposits

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Ping Lacson Files ‘Presidential Succession Act’ to Prevent Disruption of Government in Case of Disaster, Exceptional Circumstances

A bill by Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson seeks to ensure the government will keep running even in case of a disaster or “exceptional circumstances” where the President and his/her constitutional successors are killed or disabled.

Lacson’s Senate Bill 36 or the “Presidential Succession Act” extends the list of succession beyond the Vice President, Senate President and House Speaker, the current line of presidential succession under the 1987 Constitution.

“This bill … seeks to provide an exhaustive line and order of succession in the event of death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation of the Acting President to ensure that the office of the President is never vacated even in exceptional circumstances,” Lacson said in his bill.

In Filipino: ‘Presidential Succession Act’ ni Ping Lacson, Titiyakin ang Patuloy na Takbo ng Pamahalaan kung may Sakuna o ‘Exceptional Circumstances’

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Ping Lacson Bill Amends National ID Law to Address Data Privacy Concerns

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson has filed a bill seeking to amend Republic Act 11055 or the Philippine Identification System (National ID) Act, to address potential concerns on data privacy.

Lacson said such an amendment may also serve as an opportunity for the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and other concerned agencies to purge the Philippine ID system of unauthorized registrants.

Citing information he received, Lacson noted that many if not most of the unauthorized registrants are Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) personnel who may have managed to register through fraudulent means.

In Filipino: Ping Lacson, Naghain ng Panukala sa National ID Law para Tugunan ang Posibleng Data Privacy Concerns

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Read: Senate Bill 35, An Act Prohibiting the Establishment of Political Dynasties

The proposed measure seeks to prohibit the spouse or person related within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity, whether legitimate or illegitimate, full or half blood, to an incumbent elective official seeking re-election, to hold or run for any elective office in the same city and/or province in the same election.

Furthermore, the bill also prohibits two or more persons who have a political dynasty relationship from running simultaneously for an elective office within the same city and/or province, even if neither is so related to the incumbent public official.

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