Tag: Senate Blue Ribbon Committee

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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 Feels Cost of Fighting Corruption – Again

Standing against corruption often comes at a high personal and political cost, and Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is experiencing this once more amid the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation into the flood control scandal.

Lacson said his chairmanship of the Blue Ribbon Committee, which is looking into the issue, has cost him friends and earned him new enemies, like in 2003 when he pushed for the abolition of the pork barrel system.

But he maintained he will continue to fulfill his duty and follow the evidence, regardless of who gets hurt.

“Déjà vu. When I took the chairmanship of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, I knew I could lose some friends and create new enemies. I had exactly the same feeling when I delivered my ‘Living Without Pork’ privilege speech in March 2003,” he said on X Saturday.

In Filipino: Lacson, Ramdam Muli ang Kapalit ng Pagsusulong ng Laban sa Katiwalian

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Lacson: Blue Ribbon Members to Discuss Draft Partial Committee Report

Members of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee are to discuss on Wednesday the panel’s draft partial committee report on the flood control scandal, in accordance with the committee’s rules, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Panel Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said.

Lacson noted that many of the committee’s members preferred to discuss and understand the contents of the draft report before signing it.

“Maybe due to the complexity and sensitivity involving the issues and personalities mentioned in the draft committee report, many members prefer to discuss and understand the contents of the report before they affix their signatures. Others may want to include their inputs.
That being said, I am aware that the chairman is not the committee. In fact, it is composed of 17 regular and three ex-officio members. As such, the report needs at least 11 signatures to make it an official committee report to be deliberated in plenary,” he said.

“As the chairman, I am open to hear the suggestions/recommendations from the BRC members as long as everything is aligned with the practical realities, especially those already undergoing preliminary investigations by the Department of Justice and Ombudsman which the partial committee report merely restated as part of its recommendations,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Blue Ribbon Draft Partial Committee Report, Tatalakayin ng mga Miyembro

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Lacson Sets Blue Ribbon Hearing on BIR’s Resumption of LOA Issuance

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will hold a hearing this week on the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s resumption of the issuance of letters of authority (LOAs) and mission orders (MOs), Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon panel chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Monday.

Lacson said the Blue Ribbon Committee needs to be formally informed of the reforms the BIR has instituted in relation to the issuance of LOAs, including the safeguards it put in place.

“The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee needs to be formally informed of the new reforms instituted by the BIR in relation to the issuance of LOAs and if safeguards are already in place to prevent or at least minimize abuse committed against our taxpayers, then we may have to conclude the committee hearings on the matter,” he said.

“We will schedule a hearing this week in this regard to hear what the BIR has to say,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Itinakda ang Pagdinig ng Blue Ribbon sa Muling Pag-isyu ng LOA ng BIR

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Lacson: Measures Empowering Ombudsman Among Blue Ribbon’s Partial Recommendations on Flood Control Mess

Proposed legislation to strengthen the fight against corruption by empowering the Office of the Ombudsman will be among the partial recommendations of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee following its investigation into the flood control scandal, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Thursday.

Lacson said these include allowing the undermanned Office of the Ombudsman to deputize private lawyers as prosecutors, and giving it a law enforcement arm to apply for search warrants and follow up the investigation of corruption-related cases.

“One recommendation is based on the suggestion of former Senate President Franklin Drilon to allow the Ombudsman to deputize private lawyers to help in prosecuting cases, because the Office of the Ombudsman is very undermanned. If we allow it to deputize private lawyers to act as prosecutors by way of legislation, that would be a good measure,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Mga Panukalang Magpapalakas sa Ombudsman Kabilang sa Bahagyang Rekomendasyon ng Blue Ribbon sa Isyu ng Flood Control

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