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.
Lacson said the committee also invited former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo to shed light on an alleged attempt by former police chief Nicolas Torre III to take him under custody. He said that while Torre is not invited to the hearing, he is welcome to attend and air his side.
Also, Lacson said at least two resource persons are due to testify at the hearing on the purchase by former Speaker Martin Romualdez of a house and lot in South Forbes in April 2023, with contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II as “front.”
“I obtained copies of the deed of absolute sale and the checks used in the payment,” he said in an interview on DZBB radio Friday.
In the DZMM interview, Lacson also said that while Discaya was not named as the vendee or buyer in the sale, the vendee or buyer was a corporation whose substantial shareholder has “ties” to the former Speaker.
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