SUPORTADO ni Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson sa hakbang ng Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) na ipatanggal ang mga pangalan at larawan ng mga opisyal ng gobyerno sa mga proyektong pampubliko. Giit ni Lacson, walang lugar sa serbisyo publiko ang mga “epal” billboard na tampok ang pangalan at mukha ng mga pulitiko, at maaari pa itong magpahiwatig ng tongpats, hindi lamang sa mismong proyekto kundi maging sa mga billboard na nagpo-promote nito. “This one I like and support unequivocally. While surely, there are no ghost billboards, most likely the ‘epal’ billboards are as overpriced as the projects,” ani Lacson sa kanyang X account, kaugnay ng kautusan ng DILG. Sa Memorandum Circular 2026-006 na may petsang Enero 29, ipinagbawal ng DILG ang pagpapaskil at/o paglalagay ng pangalan, imahe, at wangis ng mga opisyal ng gobyerno sa mga proyekto ng pamahalaan. Ipinagbabawal ang pagpapakita ng pangalan, larawan, imahe, slogan, logo, color motif, mga inisyal, o anumang simbolo o grapikong representasyon na may kaugnayan sa sinumang opisyal ng gobyerno sa mga proyekto at karatula ng pamahalaan. Iniutos din ng DILG ang agarang pagtanggal ng mga umiiral na karatula, tarpaulin, marker, o iba pang materyales na lumalabag sa nasabing circular. “Government programs are not personal billboards. These are funded by taxpayers and must reflect public service, not political credit grabbing,” dagdag ng DILG. Pinangunahan din ni Lacson ang paghigpit laban sa galawang “epal” sa pamamagitan ng pagsusulong ng malinaw na safeguards sa ngayo’y 2026 national budget, upang maiwasan ang pang-aabuso at political patronage. “The national budget must not be a political tool or spoils for those in power. We deserve a budget that truly serves the people, free from political exploitation. While we have made headway, the path forward remains extensive,” giit niya.
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SENATEPresident Vicente C. Sotto III has filed a bill seeking to amend Republic Act No. 3591 to strengthen the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) and enhance the country’s framework for bank liquidation. The proposed measure, Senate Bill No. 1667 aims to make the Philippine deposit insurance system more effective and responsive by reinforcing the PDIC’s independence, authority, and financial capability. “The amendments will empower the PDIC to respond decisively to emerging risks and financial crises, while minimizing disruptions to the financial system.”, said Sotto. The proposed legislation enhances deposit protection through expanded coverage and the implementation of differential insurance, extending deposit insurance to Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NBFI) and cooperative products deemed as deposits by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA). It also seeks to ensure the prompt release of deposit insurance claims so depositors can quickly access their savings if a bank shuts down. In times of financial crisis, the bill authorizes the temporary grant of full deposit insurance coverage, or Temporary Blanket Coverage, upon determination by the Monetary Board when there is a threat to financial system stability. The proposed amendments introduce an enhanced liquidation process to expedite the recovery of claims by creditors of closed banks, while further strengthening the PDIC as a financial safety net institution.
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PUPUNTIRYAHIN sa susunod na pagdinig ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee sa flood control scandal ang mga isyu kay dating Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan, at ang pagbili ng property sa 30 Tamarind Road sa South Forbes sa Makati City noong 2023 kung saan sangkot ang contractor na si Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II, ayon kay Senate President Pro Tempore at Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson. Ani Lacson, marami pang dapat ipaliwanag si Bonoan, kabilang ang tila “pattern” ng mga maling grid coordinates para sa mga flood control project sa ulat na isinumite niya kay Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “Pwede nating i-focus ang next hearing kay Bonoan at kung anong ibang issues na pwedeng i-clarify niya. Tutal narito na siya sa bansa, siya pwedeng bigyan ng linaw ang pinupukol sa kanya,” aniya sa panayam sa DZMM radio. Napansin niya na sa huling pagdinig ng Blue Ribbon Committee, nagpakita sina DPWH Undersecretaries Arthur Bisnar at Ricardo Bernabe III ng datos na nagpapahiwatig ng isang “clear pattern” sa pagsusumite ng mga maling grid coordinates. Sinabi ni Lacson na kung iilan lamang sa kabuuang bilang ng mga flood control project ang may maling grid coordinates, maaari itong ituring na hindi sinasadya o bunga ng kapabayaan. Ngunit binigyang-diin niya na dahil mahigit 86 porsyento ng mga proyekto ang may maling grid coordinates, “mukhang pwede na nating sabihing sinadya.” Ayon kay Lacson, hindi niya inaalis ang posibilidad na ang pagsusumite ng maling datos ay layon hindi lamang para siraan ang “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website — kung saan nakalista ang mga lokasyon ng mga flood control project — kundi para pahinain din ang pag-uusig sa mga kasong may kaugnayan sa mga “ghost” flood control project. “Halimbawa may naka-file ng kaso, pwedeng gawing depensa yan. Sabihin ng legal defense, mali ang grid coordinates di ba? So yan ang nakita nating long-term motive,” aniya. Sa hiwalay na panayam sa DZBB, sinabi ni Lacson na kung magiging mailap si Bonoan sa pagsagot sa mga tanong, maaari itong ma-cite in contempt ng komite, at arestuhin para ikulong sa Senado. “Pwede siyang makulong, hindi lang ma-issue-han ng arrest warrant, ipapakulong right then and there,” ani Lacson. South Forbes Property Samantala, sinabi ni Lacson na maaari ring imbitahan ng Blue Ribbon Committee sa susunod na pagdinig si dating Speaker Martin Romualdez o isang kinatawan ng Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), upang magbigay-linaw sa pagbili ng isang bahay at lupa sa South Forbes Park sa Makati City noong 2023. Aniya, ipinapakita sa mga rekord na ang nakabili ng bahay ay ang Golden Pheasant Holdings Corp., kung saan ang pangunahing stockholder ay si Jose Raulito Paras. Si Paras ay humawak ng matataas na posisyon sa hindi bababa sa tatlong kumpanyang konektado sa dating Speaker. “Sa susunod na pagdinig pwedeng gawin yan ng Senado. Iko-course namin ang invitation (kay Romualdez) kay Speaker Dy. Kung gusto niyang magpunta welcome siya magpaliwanag. Pero hindi pwedeng sabihing kailangang pumunta siya dahil may inter-parliamentary courtesy,” ani Lacson. Binanggit ni Lacson na dalawang staff ng dating nangungupahan sa bahay ang nagsabi sa Blue Ribbon Committee noong nakaraang Lunes na si Discaya ang nagsabi sa kanila na lisanin ang bahay dahil ihahanda na ito para sa bagong may-ari. Positibo rin nilang kinilala si Discaya sa pagdinig....
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ALLOCABLES- at least those motivated by commissions and kickbacks – are no better than planned or attempted robbery, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday. Lacson said this is why it is key for the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to take a closer look into the files left behind by the late Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Catalina Cabral. “If you submit a ‘wish list’ or allocables even if you have no assurance that it will be included in the final version of the General Appropriations Act… and if your motive is to collect commissions, then it may be likened to attempted, or at the very least, planned robbery,” he said in English and Filipino, in an interview on DZMM radio. He maintained that while there is no problem if lawmakers request funding for projects that are properly studied as part of their commitment to their constituents, this should not be done while the National Expenditure Program (NEP) is still being worked on. In his case, Lacson pointed out that his institutional amendments to the budget bill were grounded in duly vetted requests from concerned agencies, or in realignments made pursuant to his oversight function. “For a congressman or senator to dip fingers into the NEP, that can be likened to attempted robbery if the intention for the allocables is to get commissions,” he said. “Legislators have no say in the listing of projects in the NEP. The work of Congress is to introduce amendments to the NEP after it is submitted to Congress,” he added. The “Cabral files” are among the documents the Blue Ribbon Committee chaired by Lacson expects to tackle in its hearing on Monday, Jan. 19. Lacson said he will ask the DPWH’s representatives at the hearing to authenticate the supposed documents from Cabral in his and other personalities’ possession. If the DPWH cannot authenticate the documents – including those in his possession – Lacson said they will not be made part of the Blue Ribbon panel’s records. “I will apply fairness – any document the DPWH does not authenticate, including those in my possession, will not be made part of the Blue Ribbon Committee’s records,” he said. Bonoan’s ‘Absence’ Meanwhile, Lacson said the expected absence of ex-DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan at the Jan. 19 hearing will not stall the Blue Ribbon’s investigation – but may potentially hurt his case. “It’s on him because he has to explain the submission of false data on grid coordinates to Malacanang. At Monday’s hearing, resource persons from the DPWH will testify. So it’s on him to air his side,” he said. Lacson also said the Blue Ribbon Committee will ask representatives of the Department of Justice at the hearing to confirm if the DOJ approved Bonoan’s request to extend his stay in California because his wife’s eye operation was postponed to Feb. 15. In an interview on DWAN Friday evening, Lacson also said he may take up with Senate President Vicente Sotto III and other committee members whether to allow Bonoan to attend via videoconferencing, if needed. But he maintained Bonoan must be at the grounds of the Philippine embassy or consulate. “If he would attend through videoconferencing, it must be in the embassy grounds where the oath can be administered to him,” he said....
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ExDepartment 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. Lacson said he is not discounting the possibility that Bonoan – who former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo testified had received billions of pesos in kickbacks related to infrastructure projects – may have done this to weaken or discredit the government’s efforts to get to the bottom of the corruption behind anomalous flood control projects. “He is misleading the Palace to weaken or discredit the investigation into ghost flood control projects. If several projects in the Sumbong Sa Pangulo website turn out to be false, people will think it is not reliable,” he said. He added this could be why Bonoan at first contested the data on at least one ghost flood control project in Mindoro in his first privilege speech on the subject last year. “That could be why he claimed the grid coordinates in the projects we cited were wrong – because he knew he gave the wrong data. But little did he know that we used different sources in locating and identifying ghost flood control projects in my two privilege speeches,” he said. He said the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which he chairs, intends to get to the bottom of this in its next hearing on Monday, Jan. 19, by subpoenaing DPWH documents, including those left by the late Undersecretary Catalina Cabral before she died. DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon has said he will send two undersecretaries to testify on the matter, and to bring the related documents, he added. Lacson said Bonoan will be one of the personalities that the Blue Ribbon Committee will subpoena in its Jan. 19 hearing. If he still fails to show up, he will be cited in contempt of the committee, and a legislative arrest warrant may be issued against him. If this happens, he said the committee will make arrangements with Philippine ambassador to the US Jose “Babe” Romualdez to coordinate with US authorities to deport Bonoan to the country. “Bonoan’s stay in the US will expire, he cannot stay there forever. The longest stay in the US is six months. Beyond that, his stay will become unauthorized and he may be arrested and brought back, either through extradition or deportation,” he said. Alleged Torre Custody Bid Lacson said the Blue Ribbon Committee also intends to clarify with former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo the circumstances behind a failed attempt by former PNP chief and now MMDA General Manager Nicolas Torre III to take Bernardo under Torre’s custody, “and find out for what purpose.” He said this happened before Bernardo’s third appearance, where Bernardo learned Torre was to give him sanctuary, but he did not want to be under his custody. At the time, Torre was not yet MMDA General Manager. “It is still a big wonder sa akin bakit napasok sa scene si Gen. Torre (It is still a big wonder to me why Torre entered the scene),” Lacson said....
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NAGHAIN ng panukalang batas si Senador Jinggoy Estrada na naglalayong tuldukan ang pagsasagawa ng redtagging na aniya ay kadalasang nagiging sanhi ng harassment, paglabag sa karapatang pantao at dahilan sa pagpaslang ng mga aktibista, mamamahayag, community leaders at ordinaryong mamamayan. “Ang redtagging ay hindi lamang pagbibigay ng label o bansag – ito ay isang banta. Kapag ang isang tao ay binansagan na communist sympathizer, agad nalalagay sa panganib ang kanyang buhay,” diin ni Estrada. Ang Senate Bill No. 1071, o ang “Anti-RedTagging Act,” na inihain ni Estrada ay naglalayong ideklara ang red-tagging na isang krimen na mayroong kaakibat na parusa. Ang panukalang SBN 1071 ay naka-angkla sa desisyon ng Korte Suprema sa kasong Deduro v. Maj. Gen. Vinoya, kung saan kinilala ng korte na ang red-tagging, paninirang-puri, maling pagle-label, at guilt by association ay naglalagay sa panganib sa buhay, kalayaan, at seguridad ng isang tao, at kadalasang nauuwi sa pagdukot, pananakot, o maging extra-judicial killings. Nais ng panukala na kilalanin at ipaloob sa batas ang red-tagging upang mabigyan ng proteksyon ang mamamayan kontra sa hindi makatarungang pananakot, panggigipit, o pag-uusig. Ang red-tagging, ayon sa SBN 1071, ay ang hayagang pagbansag o pag-akusa sa mga indibidwal o grupo bilang mga komunista, terorista, o kalaban ng Estado — na kadalasan ay walang sapat na ebidensya. Maituturing na red-tagging ang paglalabas ng pahayag sa publiko, social media posts, tarpaulin, karatula, deklarasyon, public events, at iba pang platapormang ginagamit upang i-label o siraan ang isang tao o grupo bilang kalaban ng Estado. Nais ni Estrada sa kanyang itinutulak na bill ang pagpapataw ng 10 taong pagkakakulong at habambuhay na diskwalipikasyon sa paghawak ng anumang posisyong pampubliko bliang parusa sa sinumang mapapatunayang lumabag sa batas. “Matagal nang nanganganib ang buhay ng mga tagapagtanggol ng karapatang pantao at mga aktibista dahil sa red-tagging. Naglilikha ito ng chilling effect sa mga lehitimong kritiko at lider ng komunidad — kabilang na ang mga mamamahayag — at naghahasik ng takot sa ating bansa. Wala itong lugar sa isang demokratikong lipunan,” sabi ng senador. Ayon kay Estrada, marami sa mga naitalang kaso ng red-tagging ang nagpapatunay na nakamamatay ang gawaing ito, tulad na lamang sa mga kaso nila Jose Reynaldo Porquia, Zara Alvarez, lawyer Benjamin Ramos, at Konsehal Bernardino Patigas — mga indibidwal na hayagang tinawag na komunista ng mga owtoridad bago sila brutal na pinaslang. “Ang seguridad na ipinagbubunyi ng Estado ay dapat nagpoprotekta, hindi naglalagay sa panganib. Hindi krimen ang adbokasiya. Hindi terorismo ang dissent,” giit ni Estrada. “Tinitiyak ng panukalang ito na walang buhay ng Pilipino ang malalagay sa panganib dahil lamang sa walang-ingat at walang-basehang paratang.”
HABANGginugunita ng Pilipinas ang National Zero Waste Month ngayong Enero, nanindigan si Senadora Loren Legarda sa kanyang panawagan para sa mas matibay na pambansang pagkakaisa upang harapin ang lumalalang krisis sa basura ng bansa. Ipinunto ng Senadora na bagama’t lumawak na ang kamalayan at dumami ang mga inisyatiba sa komunidad, kailangan ang mas malalalim na reporma at sama-samang pagkilos. “Ang Zero Waste ay isang pambansang paninindigan,” pahayag ni Legarda. “Kailangan natin ng mas matibay nap ag-aksyon. May pananagutan ang bawat Pilipino, at dapat tumindig ang bawat institusyon upang pangalagaan ang ating kalikasan at ang kinabukasan ng susunod na henerasyon,” dagdag niya. Ang panawagan ng Senadora ay kasunod ng nakababahalang datos mula sa What a Waste Global Database Report ng World Bank noong 2025, kung saan ika-27 ang Pilipinas sa 50 bansang may pinakamalaking nalilikom na municipal solid waste, na umaabot sa 14.6 na milyong tonelada kada taon. Malaking bahagi nito ay plastik, at nagbabala ang mga eksperto na ang patuloy na pagdami ng basura ay nagbabanta sa kalusugan ng publiko, katatagan ng mga lungsod, at mga pagsisikap ng bansa sa pag-angkop sa pagbabago ng klima. Binigyang-diin ni Legarda na ang maling pamamahala ng basura ay tuwirang nagpapalala ng pagbaha at panganib sa sakuna. Noong Hulyo 2025, nakalikom ang Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) ng mahigit 600 tonelada ng basura sa buong NCR sa kasagsagan ng malalakas na ulang dulot ng habagat kabilang ang 526.8 tonelada mula sa mga pumping station at 76.9 na tonelada mula sa mga binahang lugar. Samantala, nag-alis ang DENR-NCR ng mahigit 872,000 sako ng debris mula sa mga ilog at estero upang mabawasan ang pagbaha. Kinumpirma ng mga awtoridad na ang pagbabara ng mga daluyan ng tubig dahil sa maling pagtatapon ng basura ang lalong nagpalala ng pagbaha sa Metro Manila. “Ang pagbaha ay hindi lamang usapin ng ulan; ito ay pinalalala ng basurang bumabara sa ating mga ilog at estero,” babala ni Legarda. “Bawat piraso ng basura ay nagiging hadlang na naglalagay sa panganib ng buhay. Ang mas mahigpit na disiplina sa basura ang pananggalang na maaari nating buuin nang magkakasama,” diin niya. Kasabay nito, binigyang-diin ni Legarda na matagal nang umiiral ang balangkas para makamit ang zero waste sa pamamagitan ng Republic Act No. 9003, o Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, na kanyang iniakda at pangunahing inisponsoran. Inaatasan ng batas ang paghihiwalay ng basura sa pinagmulan, pagtatatag ng materials recovery facilities (MRFs) sa bawat barangay, at pagbawas ng basura sa pamamagitan ng pagre-recycle, composting, at muling paggamit. “Ibinibigay ng RA 9003 ang malinaw na gabay: paghihiwalay sa pinagmulan, pagre-recycle, composting, at muling paggamit,” paliwanag ni Legarda. “Kung ipatutupad ng bawat barangay ang materials recovery facilities at isasagawa ng bawat tahanan ang tamang paghihiwalay ng basura, maaari nating lubos na mabawasan ang basura at maprotektahan ang ating mga komunidad.” Binanggit din ni Legarda ang Republic Act No. 11898, o ang Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022, na kanyang iniakda bilang co-author upang palakasin ang RA 9003 sa pamamagitan ng pag-aatas sa mga prodyuser na bawiin at i-recycle ang plastik na packaging waste sa ilalim ng malinaw na EPR programs. Upang umakma sa mga balangkas na ito, muling inihain ni Legarda sa ika-20 Kongreso ang Magna Carta of Waste Workers, isang panukalang naglalayong i-standardize ang kundisyon sa trabaho, palawakin ang social protection, at pormal na kilalanin ang mga pormal at impormal na waste workers bilang mahahalagang katuwang sa pamamahala ng kalikasan. “Mahahalagang katuwang ang mga waste worker sa pangangalaga ng kalusugan ng publiko at ng kapaligiran. Sa pagtiyak ng kanilang mga karapatan at proteksyon, itinataguyod natin ang kanilang dignidad at pinatitibay ang ating paninindigan sa people-centered environmental governance,” pahayag ni Legarda. Ngayong Zero Waste Month, muling pinagtibay ni Legarda ang kanyang pangako na isulong ang mga repormang magpapalakas sa pananagutan ng mga prodyuser, magbibigay-lakas sa mga komunidad, at mag-iinstitusyonalisa ng suporta para sa mga waste worker. “Ito ang simula ng panibagong taon ng pananagutan,” ani Legarda. “Ngunit sa pagkakataong ito, dapat itong markahan ng aksyon at resulta. Ang zero waste ay hindi pangarap kundi ating responsibilidad sa ating bansa at sa mga susunod na henerasyon.”
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