Tag: Vince Dizon

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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: ‘Restoring’ Cuts in DPWH Budget at Bicam Can Reopen Floodgates to Insertions

Accommodating the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)’s request to restore items cut from its proposed budget for 2026 could potentially reopen the floodgates to insertions, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson warned on Sunday.

Lacson said that if the items the DPWH is seeking to restore are not in the Senate and House versions of the budget bill, neither house can act on it as they agreed to tackle only their disagreeing provisions in the bicameral conference committee.

“If the DPWH appeals to restore its budget and the items it seeks are not in the House and Senate versions, it may open the floodgates to insert items that are not in either version,” he said in a mix of English and FIlipino in an interview on DZBB radio.

“In the bicam, if the items they want restored are not in the House and Senate versions, we would be violating our agreement to tackle only the disagreeing provisions, and the door would be open to insertions,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Pag-Restore ng Budget Cuts ng DPWH, Maaaring Maging Daan sa Pagbalik ng Insertions

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Designed to ‘Confuse and Corrupt’? Lacson Flags ‘Duplicate’ Projects in DPWH’s 2025 Budget

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Tuesday evening flagged several “duplicate” projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in its corruption-filled 2025 budget, which he said could have been designed to “confuse and corrupt.”

In his interpellation of the DPWH’s budget for 2026, Lacson noted these duplicates were under the Convergence and Special Support Program (CSSP), which were “significantly bloated every year” from 2023 to 2025.

“Bakit ito palaging bloated every year? Significant ang kanyang pagtaas (Why is the CSSP bloated every year? And the increases are significant),” he said.

Senate finance committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian, who sponsored the DPWH budget, replied that these increases are “mostly congressional.”

In FIlipino: Designed to ‘Confuse and Corrupt’? Lacson, Sinita ang mga ‘Duplicate’ Projects sa 2025 Budget ng DPWH

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We’re Getting There: Lacson to Fully Support Efforts Toward Logical Conclusion in Flood Control Mess Probe

We’re getting there, so let’s keep pushing to achieve a logical conclusion to the flood control project mess.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed this on Friday after the Independent Commission for Infrastructure and the Department of Public Works and Highways recommended to the Ombudsman the filing of graft, plunder and bribery charges against former Speaker Martin Romualdez and ex-Rep. Elizaldy Co.

“We’re getting there. We are beginning to see the fruits of our collective labor. But make no mistake: the road ahead is long, and we must sustain our efforts until we reach the logical conclusion: the prosecution, conviction, and jailing of those involved. This can be done only through the gathering and presentation of evidence,” said Lacson, who chairs the Blue Ribbon Committee looking into the corruption behind substandard and ghost flood control projects.

In Filipino: We’re Getting There: Lacson, Todo Suporta sa Pagsisikap para sa Logical Conclusion sa Isyu ng Flood Control

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Lacson: DPWH Diverted P50B in Unprogrammed Funds for Infra Projects in 2024

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) diverted no less than P50 billion from unprogrammed appropriations in the 2024 budget for various infrastructure projects, including P30 billion for flood control projects alone, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson bared Tuesday.

Lacson said this showed how DPWH officials have become comfortable with not following the government’s master plan for infrastructure projects.

“In 2024 alone, the DPWH diverted P50 billion from unprogrammed appropriations for infrastructure projects, including P30 billion for flood control projects. This means DPWH officials have become comfortable with funding such projects even if this means violating the government’s master plan,” he said in Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio.

“These appropriations were spread throughout several districts. The public fund was abused because of the collusion between some lawmakers and DPWH officials, to the point that lawmakers gave the DPWH bigger funds than the education sector – and in 2025, they continued this practice until it exploded in our faces,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: DPWH, Inilaan ang P50B Unprogrammed Funds Para sa Infra Projects noong 2024

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