Tag: Roberto Bernardo

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Lacson: Flood Control Master Plan Must Survive Changes in Administration

Any flood control master plan being crafted must not only be technically comprehensive but also be designed to span multiple administrations, ensuring continuity despite changes in government, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed on Wednesday.

Lacson made the call after noting that the master plans of previous administrations were often discarded by the successors, leaving ordinary Filipinos to continue suffering from the effects of flooding.

“Dapat may continuity, multi-administration. Dapat nagko-cross ng administrations ang plano kung ito’y maayos. Pwede siguro mag modify, mag-adapt sa bagong sitwasyon sa pagbabago ng panahon, pero nandiyan ang basic master plan kung paano tutugunan ang problema ng pagbaha (There should be continuity and the master plan should be multi-administration in scope. It must be designed to cross administrations. Minor modifications can be made over time to adapt to new situations, but the core of the basic plan must remain),” he said in an interview on DZBB radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Flood Control Master Plan, Dapat May ‘Continuity’ at ‘Multi-Administration’

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‘Almost all’ senators, ‘except Lacson,’ ask for DPWH allocations – witness [Inquirer]

From the Inquirer: From the Inquirer: “Almost all” senators — except Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson — requested project allocations from former Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan, a state witness told the Sandiganbayan Third Division on Tuesday.

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Lacson Calls Out Marcoleta’s ‘Fake’ Premises on Blue Ribbon Probe, Ethics ‘Complaint’

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Sunday called out the “fake” premises cited by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta regarding the Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation into the flood control scandal, and an ethics complaint he has threatened to file against him.

Lacson said Marcoleta’s call to summon former Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin to the Blue Ribbon probe over alleged text messages with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was baseless, noting Bersamin was not mentioned in the committee’s records.

As for Marcoleta’s prospective ethics complaint over a supposed spliced video, Lacson said it was similarly unfounded.

“He’s been basing his statements and accusations on wrong premises. They’re all fake,” he said in English and Filipino, in an interview on DZBB radio.

In Filipino: Lacson, Tinuligsa ang Mga Pekeng Banat ni Marcoleta sa Blue Ribbon Probe at Bantang Ethics Complaint

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Lacson: Ex-DPWH Chief Deliberately Fed Fake Ghost Flood Control Project Data to Malacañang

Ex-Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan deliberately fed false data to Malacañang regarding ghost flood control projects, possibly to throw off the investigation into the matter, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson bared Wednesday.

Lacson cited “very reliable information” reaching him showing the data led to incorrect grid coordinates of thousands of flood control projects nationwide.

“I received reliable information that former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan deliberately submitted to Malacañang incorrect grid coordinates of thousands of flood control projects all over the country, which formed part of the Sumbong sa Pangulo website. This resulted in grossly inaccurate data involving some 421 ghost projects on previously inspected flood control projects earlier reported to the public by the said department and which they are now trying to rectify by comparing the records in their multi-year planning and scheduling or MYPS, Project and Contract Management Application or PCMA, and other related documents that remain intact and in the possession of the Department,” he said at the Kapihan sa Senado forum.

“Even if he insists he is not a principal player, we can very clearly see his complicity in covering up the crime,” he added, in a mix of English and Filipino.

In Filipino: Lacson: Sadyang Minali ni Ex-DPWH Sec. Bonoan sa Malacañang ang Datos ng mga Ghost Flood Control Projects

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Lacson: Public Must Stay ‘Angry’ But Not Violent, to Keep Pressure on Govt vs Corruption

The issuance of arrest warrants against ex-Rep. Elizaldy Co and several others tied to anomalous flood control projects shows the government means business in addressing the issue, but the public must remain angry without being violent to ensure such efforts continue, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.

Lacson said authorities – particularly Malacanang, the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice – cannot afford to ease up because those involved would be emboldened to try again if they get away with their actions now.

“I don’t want public outrage to lessen, so long as people remain non-violent. If public anger diminishes, government might slacken their efforts. As of now, they are working because of the pressure from our people. But this is so long as the outrage does not turn violent, like the Sept. 21 protest where some protesters damaged some traffic lights,” he said in Filipino in an interview on DWIZ radio.

“No matter how many, no matter how long it takes, get to the bottom to achieve the logical conclusion,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Dapat Manatiling ‘Galit’ Pero Hindi Marahas ang Publiko para Patuloy ang Laban ng Gobyerno vs Korapsyon

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