Tag: Vice President

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Lacson Urges Update, Expansion of COA Audit Rules on Confidential and Intelligence Funds

The Commission on Audit (COA)’s rules governing the audit of confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) should be updated and expanded to ensure greater accountability, Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson raised the need to revisit the Joint Memorandum Circular after COA auditor Roderick Wamil said that the agency’s audit of CIF is limited to a document-based compliance audit under current guidelines.

He also raised the issue of whether auditors assigned to confidential and intelligence funds should be granted the appropriate security clearance to access classified documents needed for a thorough audit.

In Filipino: Lacson, Nanawagan na I-update at Palawakin ang COA Rules sa Pag-audit ng Confidential at Intelligence Funds

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Lacson: Irrelevant Questions by Some Senator-Judges Slowing VP Impeachment Trial

Irrelevant questions by some senator-judges are slowing the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, while also testing the patience of those following the proceedings, Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Friday.

Lacson said that while Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Francis Escudero has been accommodating of his fellow senator-judges out of respect, “we should likewise exercise restraint and be mature enough to discern which questions are proper.”

“With all due respect to our peers, sometimes we senator-judges are slowing down the trial. Why is it that sometimes questions irrelevant to the trial are asked? The Presiding Officer has been accommodating out of respect. But we must be mature enough to discern what clarificatory questions we can ask,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.

“Injecting issues that are not relevant to the impeachment trial causes unnecessary delays, and does not sit well with the public,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: ‘Irrelevant Questions’ ng Ilang Senator-Judge, Nagpapabagal sa VP Impeachment Trial

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Comity vs Enmity at the Debates on the OVP’s Budget

Comity vs enmity: By tradition and in observance of the time-honored comity between the executive and legislative branches of government, the proposed budgets of the two highest elected officials simply go through the formalities of a quorum call, acknowledgement of resource persons and budget presentations. Thereafter, a properly seconded motion recommending plenary action is put into a vote forthwith by the chairperson who will eventually defend the budget before his/her peers.

The enmity between VP Sara Duterte and the designated sponsor, Cong Stella Quimbo, makes the ensuing floor debates on the budget of the OVP an interesting watch.

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On President Duterte’s ‘Seriousness’ to run for Vice President

The decision still lies with the people, particularly the electorate who will choose the next leaders of this country. It can be simplified in a choice between ‘more of the same’ or change.

We should simply ask ourselves these questions:

* Have President Duterte and Sen. Bong Go made the lives of Filipinos better, or things need to be changed or reformed?
* Are Filipinos treated with more respect by the international community or not?
* Is there less corruption now, or is their government more corrupt?
* Are we safer in our homes and in the streets?
* Is poverty up or down?

If the choice is change, we can simply reject the status quo. If we are happy with what we have become for the last five years, then continuity should be a better option.

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On the VP’s Acceptance of the Challenge to Handle the Anti-Drug Campaign

Kudos to Vice President Robredo. I take my hat off to her for accepting the daunting challenge. Nobody in this world cannot be incapable of accomplishing a task as long as he or she puts his or her mind and conscience into the job.

Experience counts but sincerity and mental honesty, not to mention the willingness to learn, should count more. We should all give her the support she needs to contribute her share in battling this pestering problem of illegal drugs that destroys lives, families and the youth to whom we will bequeath the future of our beloved country.

In my case, I am ready and willing to humbly share whatever modest law enforcement experience I gained in my previous life.

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