Tag: Speaker Gloria Arroyo

Statements

Ping: Ombudsman Puwede Nang Imbestigahan ang ‘Pork’ Insertions

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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” →

Statements

Lacson: Time for Ombudsman to Step into ‘Pork’ Insertion Mess

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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” →

In the News, Online

📰 Editorial: Just decline it [People’s Journal]

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From People’s Journal: Sometimes the answer to our biggest problems may be found in just two letters – NO. Continue reading “📰 Editorial: Just decline it [People’s Journal]” →

In the News, Radio, Statements

Interview on DZBB | Dec. 9, 2018

In an interview on DZBB, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– ‘pork’ in the 2019 budget
– acquittal of former Sen. Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr.
– possible extension of martial law in Mindanao

Quotes from the interview… Continue reading “Interview on DZBB | Dec. 9, 2018” →

Statements

Lacson: Declining ‘Pork’ is the Answer to ‘Misplaced Generosity’

FY 2019 Budget Plenary 05 December 2018-24

If the “pork” in Pampanga and Camarines Sur worth some P4.3 billion stemmed from a “misplaced gesture of generosity,” the beneficiaries can show good faith by declining such amounts, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said.

Lacson issued the advice after House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. said the allocations were a show of “misplaced generosity” to public works regional directors seeking funding for road and flood control projects.

“Since Majority Leader Andaya claims that the huge earmarks for his and (Speaker Gloria) Arroyo’s districts are a case of ‘misplaced gesture of generosity,’ maybe they can display a ‘genuine gesture of good faith’ by deleting or reducing those humongous allocations,” Lacson said on his Twitter account.

Related: Ping: Sobra-sobrang alokasyon dahil sa ‘pagkagalante,’ isauli
Continue reading “Lacson: Declining ‘Pork’ is the Answer to ‘Misplaced Generosity’” →

In the News, Photos, Statements, Videos

#PingSays: On delays in the 2019 budget, Alsa Masa, visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping | Nov. 19, 2018

In an interview, Sen. Lacson answers questions on:
– delays in the passage of the national budget for 2019
– reported plan to set up Alsa Masa-style network vs insurgency
– visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping

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Quotes from the interview…

Continue reading “#PingSays: On delays in the 2019 budget, Alsa Masa, visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping | Nov. 19, 2018” →

In the News, Statements

On Speaker Arroyo’s Recommendation of Withdrawal from the Inter-Parliamentary Union

First, Speaker Arroyo’s recommendation is based on the wrong premise. The IPU has yet to act on its Human Rights Committee’s recommendation to the IPU Governing Council. Having said that, it is premature, if at all, to denounce the IPU as a whole, much less withdraw membership from the body.

Second, by withdrawing, it would imply that the Philippine Senate acknowledges the political persecution of opposition senators.

Contrarily, the recent resolution of Sen. Trillanes’ coup d’etat case by the Makati RTC Branch 148 is proof enough that the judicial process works in our country, and that the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary from the executive and legislative is evident and clear.

Third, it is the Senate, not the House of Representatives, that is a member of the IPU, so I’m not sure where Speaker GMA is coming from.

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In the News, Online, Photos, Videos

Interview at the #MeetInquirer multimedia forum | Aug. 16, 2018

At the #MeetInquirer multimedia forum, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– ‘Hybrid’ budget
– National ID
– President Duterte’s reported thinking of stepping down
– Addressing the problems at BOC
– Pork barrel system
– PDEA’s need to refocus anti-drug strategy
– Sen. Tito Sotto as Senate President
– Political scene 2022

* video courtesy Inquirer.net Facebook page

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Quotes from the interview…  Continue reading “Interview at the #MeetInquirer multimedia forum | Aug. 16, 2018” →

In the News, Online

📰 Back to ‘happy pork barrel days’ if proposed P3.757-T GAA not checked — Lacson [Manila Bulletin]

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From the Manila Bulletin: ‘’If not checked, we will be back to the happy ‘pork barrel’ days of legislators in spite of the Supreme Court ruling outlawing the same,’’ Lacson said.  Continue reading “📰 Back to ‘happy pork barrel days’ if proposed P3.757-T GAA not checked — Lacson [Manila Bulletin]” →

Statements

Guarding Against ‘Pork’ in the 2019 Budget

With the policy statement issued by Speaker Arroyo concerning all the congressmen’s earmarks for their respective districts, expect a massive mangling of the National Expenditure Program (NEP).

If not checked, we will be back to the happy ‘pork barrel’ days of legislators in spite of the Supreme Court ruling outlawing the same.

Worse, all the planning involved in the preparation of the national budget will be rendered inutile to the detriment of the medium development plan of the national government, as well as the local development plans submitted by the local government units (LGUs).

I hope some like-minded colleagues in the Senate will also work overtime, as I am determined to do, in scrutinizing the House version of the appropriations bill to expose and slice whatever “pork” there is in whatever form and no matter how deeply hidden, with the end in view of preventing the return of this malevolent practice now declared unconstitutional with finality by the Supreme Court.

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