Lacson urges anger over corruption but rejects violence

Senate Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Saturday said the public must remain angry about the anomalous flood control project but refrain from violence.

Lacson said concerned authorities, particularly Malacañang, the Office of the Ombudsman, and the Department of Justice (DOJ), cannot afford to ease up because those involved would be emboldened to try again if they get away with their actions now.

However, Lacson hopes the outrage does not turn violent, similar to the 21 September protest, which recorded various violent activities in areas where the protest occurred.

"I don't want public outrage to lessen, so long as people remain non-violent. If public anger diminishes, government might slacken their efforts. As of now, they are working because of the pressure from our people. But this is so long as the outrage does not turn violent, like the 21 September protest where some protesters damaged some traffic lights," he said in Filipino during a radio interview.

Last week, the flood control case involving former Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co was transferred to the Sandiganbayan after the Office of the Ombudsman’s transfer. The case was then raffled among the judges.

On Friday, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, together with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), recommended to the Office of the Ombudsman a new batch including former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Lacson said the Ombudsman and the national government’s actions last Friday showed they are taking action, enough to cause some partisan critics to “eat their words” that Co is untouchable.

Lacson noted reports of Co being sighted in Japan may indicate Interpol is monitoring his movements and can arrest him once it receives a copy of his arrest warrant, after which Co can be brought back to the Philippines.

"He has to ride a plane and pass through immigration, so he can be tracked. He just cannot be arrested as of now because he is not yet on Interpol's red notice list, as they have no copy of his arrest warrant. Still, he's on their radar," he said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday night said they are yet to receive a court order regarding the cancellation of Co’s passport.

The department stated it can only proceed to cancel the passport of the former lawmaker “upon receipt of a court order issued by a competent Philippine court instructing the DFA to cancel a Philippine passport.”

DFA cited this is pursuant to Sections 4 and 10 of Republic Act (RA) 11983, or the New Philippine Passport Act.

Lacson said that should Co be arrested and brought back to the Philippines, there is a chance he could be brought before the Blue Ribbon Committee, but added that if Co's case has reached the Sandiganbayan by then, the committee must avoid breaking the sub judice principle or discussing the merits of the case before the anti-graft court.

In addition, Lacson stated that actions against those involved in corruption must not be rushed, as long as they lead to prosecution, conviction, and jailing.

The senator cited the case of officials including ex-undersecretaries Adrian Bersamin and Trygve Olaivar, who, according to former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, caused the insertion of P100 billion into the 2025 budget bill without President Marcos' knowledge because they had gotten away with it the previous year.

Lacson noted that in 2024, those involved in the insertion of P100 billion managed to divert P50 billion from unprogrammed appropriations in the 2024 budget for various infrastructure projects, including P30 billion for flood control projects alone.

"The DBM caused the release of that amount, possibly in coordination with the Office of the Executive Secretary," he recalled. "From what I know, they got away with it, so they were emboldened to try it again in 2025."

The list of projects to be funded was drawn up by then-Undersecretary Ma. Catalina Cabral and discussed with then-Secretary Bonoan and then-Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.

Meanwhile, Lacson said the number of personalities who could be implicated could reach 2,000 or higher, as the 1,200 initially estimated by Independent Commission for Infrastructure Commissioner Rogelio Singson is based only on the 420 ghost projects out of 8,000 initially inspected. During the last Blue Ribbon hearing, he said the number of suspected ghost projects had risen to about 472.

"It's so widespread that not just 1,200 could be implicated. It could be 2,000 or more," Lacson said.