ANG PAPEL MO! SA 2022 NATIONAL ELECTION!

ANG PAPEL MO! SA 2022 NATIONAL ELECTION!

 

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LACSON-SOTTO SUPPORTERS FOR 2022!

 

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LACSON-SOTTO SUPPORTERS FROM CALAPAN CITY & ORIENTAL MINDORO PROVINCE

 

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Opening Prayer at the Senate Regular Session | August 24, 2021

 

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On President Duterte's VP 'Endorsement' for 2022 Polls

 

On President Duterte's VP 'Endorsement' for 2022 Polls

It won't matter to my and Senate President Sotto's determination to run in the May 2022 national elections. We have already declared, and at this point in time, there is no turning back.

That said, we continue to hope that the electorate will not be swayed by entertainment politics, nor affected by fear and intimidation when they choose our country's next leaders.

As long as the campaign runs on issues involving our people's desire for good governance made possible by fixing a systematically broken government, we are good.

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Lacson Bill Pushes Better Benefits for Retired DFA Career Officials

Lacson Bill Pushes Better Benefits for Retired DFA Career Officials

Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson took the cudgels for retired career officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) as he pushed for an increase in their monthly pension and disability benefits, in exchange for their long years of looking after the welfare of Filipinos and the interests of the Philippines abroad.

Lacson, in filing Senate Bill 2347, lamented that some of our DFA retirees were receiving a measly pension despite rendering long years of service at the frontlines of Philippine foreign relations, at times risking their lives under dangerous conditions in their countries of assignment.

"Personnel of the DFA are at the frontlines of Philippine foreign relations, sometimes risking their lives under dangerous conditions in their countries of assignment. While in active service, diplomats have demonstrated their resilience as the Philippines’ first line of representation in dealing with a plethora of concerns. Their initiative, competence, professionalism, and creativity have resulted in enduring bilateral and multilateral partnerships, strategic agreements and collaborative engagements that continue to be harnessed for our people’s benefits," he said.

The bill therefore aims to provide both present and future retirees of the foreign service "support that is adequate and responsive to their needs, and to reassure them that their dedication and loyalty to the Filipino people is not forgotten."

Lacson, who chairs the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Commission on Appointments, made the call for better benefits after meeting recently with retired Ambassador Raul Hernandez, who is now the Assistant Secretary of the DFA's Department Legislative Liaison Unit (DLLU).

Senate Bill 2347 applies to retired officers or employees of the DFA who have served in the DFA for at least 15 years and are eligible to receive monthly pensions from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

Under the bill, the monthly pension benefits of all retirees of the DFA as provided under Republic Act 7157 shall be automatically adjusted at the same rate as any future or subsequent increase in the salary grade of the same rank he or she retired from.

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EX-DBM USEC Binisto Ang Pabahay Raket

EX-DBM USEC Binisto Ang Pabahay Raket

May reklamo sa Presidential Ant-Corruption Commission (PACC) laban sa nagbitiw na undersecretary ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM) dahil sa pangingikil umano sa dalawang malalaking developer ng tig-300 milyon noong siya pa ang chief executive officer ng Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB).

Ang reklamo ay natanggap umano ng PACC noong Agosto 16, 2019 kung saan sinusumbong si dating DBM Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao sa umano's raket nito kung saan iniipit ang permit ng mga developer para makabenta ng unit upang mapilitan silang dumulog sa kanyang tanggapan kung saan mayroon umanong "express lane" sa pagkuha ng permit.

Ayon sa dolumento, inisyu ni Lao ang HLURB Memorandum Circular No. 9 noong Mayo 2, 2018 kung saan pinahirapan umano nito ang proseso sa pagkuha ng License to Sell (LTS) ng mga developer para sa kanilang project.

Imbes na nakukuha ng mga developer ang LTS sa regional offices, inoobliga umano ni Lao na dumaan sa kanyang opisina lahat ng aplikasyon para dito. Kailangan ng mga developer ang LTS para makabenta ng mga low-cost housing unit.

Naburo ang mga aplikasyon sa tanggapan ni Lao kung saan nadiskubre umano nila ang "express lane" para makakuha ng LTS.

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Bunggu's dirty fingers.

In the Senate Blue Ribbon Hearing yesterday, what emerged was the direct evidence that Senate Health Committee Chair Bunggu was deeply involved in the juggling of public funds by placing his key man Christopher Lloyd Lao as Director of the PS-DBM (Procurement Service - Dept. of Budget Management).

The PS-DBM is the Office authorized by law to "procure efficiently for other line agencies" certain items that the Government needs.

But before Christopher Lloyd Lao became the Director of PS-DBM, he was first an Exec. Asst. to SAP Bunggu before becoming a Senate Aide to Senator Bunggu in July 2019. It was not known when exactly Lao became the PS-DBM Director.

From the questioning of Sen. Frank Drilon, it emerged that Bunggu as Senate Chair on Health had a hand why P42 Billion from the DoH was transferred to the PS DBM for the purchase of Facemasks and Face Shields on low prices by bulk.

The running price of facemasks in ordinary 'mercados' was between P5.00 to P7.00 per piece but Lao at PS-DBM bought millions of facemasks at P27.22 per piece. Easy math says that P20.00 was pocketed, per piece.

Same with the Faceshields which was sold at 'mercados' for just P25-P26 per piece, but Lao at PS- DBM bought milions of Facemasks at P120.00 per piece; easily P90.00 per piece, was pocketed.

40 million facemasks and 5 million faceshields were procured by the PS-DBM.

It was learned that Lao has resigned his position at PS-DBM by late June this year. Apparently, when he was advised by COA during their series of Exit Conferences that his "procurements of highly priced facemasks and faceshields" will be disallowed by COA and the disallowance will be made public by COA, as part of its Charter duties.

When the 2020 COA Audit Reports became public before June 30, 2021; Lao has already resigned from PS-DBM.

As of this writing, only Sen. Bunggu knows where Christopher Lloyd Lao is, and being a Senator - it was his duty to assist the Blue Ribbon Committee locate Lao, produce him so that questions could be propounded to him by the Blue Ribbon Committee - but Bunngu is keeping mum.

That was ONE PURCHASE for the DoH worth P42 Billion. What about the other purchases made by PS-DBM for other Line Agencies like the DepEd; the DILG; the DND; the DOE always in billions?

Since the COA red-flagged so many deals entered into by most agencies headed by Duterte appointees from Davao City, how many billions have been compromised by Lao, on the secret go ahead by Bunggu, his boss?

 

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Pacquiao’s defeat has domino effects?

 

Pacquiao’s defeat has domino effects?

Was the defeat of Manny Pacquiao in the hands of Yordenis Ugas in their 12-rounder last Saturday the closing canto of the PacMan’s legendary domination of several weight divisions in the boxing world and some political initiatives in the Philippines?

Ugas took the fight on 11 days’ notice when unified champion Errol Spence Jr. withdrew after suffering an eye injury. The 35-year-old Cuban substitute had the pro-Pacquiao crowd in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas howling as he pounded the 42-year-old “Pambansang Kamao.”

CompuBox saw Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs) outlanding Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) 101 to 88. Registering an impressive 59 percent of his power shots, Ugas hammered out a unanimous decision (115-113, 116-112, 116-112) to win the WBA welterweight title.

Ugas scored with his double-jabs to the head followed by a right hand to the body. His high guard picked off Pacquiao’s blows before a sharp right looped around PacMan’s gloves and connected to the head over and over, finally inflicting a cut over his left eye.

Pacquiao’s defeat sort of validated the handing over to Ugas earlier in the week of his WBA “super” welterweight title on account of the senator’s not defending it in the ring for two years. (More details in the Sports section.)

The victory of Ugas, a 2008 Olympic bronze medalist, over Pacquiao looked like fate was working in the background.

The Cuban pug said of his victory, “I’m very excited, but most of all, I want to thank Manny Pacquiao for giving me this moment in this ring today. Now the plan is to unify the title at welterweight. ...Errol Spence is the next one on the list. I am praying that he recuperates.”

In March 2019, Ugas dropped a split decision to Shawn Porter. Four months after, Pacquiao regained the welterweight title from Keith Thurman in an impressive performance that showed Pacquiao’s champion qualities.

But with Pacquiao’s inactivity or failure to mount a ring defense of the belt, it was taken from him and given to Ugas. Then the Cuban suddenly found himself replacing Spence and inheriting the task of taking back the title from Thurman – which he did Saturday by beating Pacquiao.

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Will Pacquiao’s loss have a domino effect, such as a series of setbacks, that will force him to scale down his various plans that include a run for the presidency in May 2022? Having felt the stiffness creeping in his knuckles and legs, will he now consider hanging up his gloves?

In a post-fight press interview, Pacquiao was saying, “I had a hard time in the ring making adjustments. My legs were tight. I’m sorry I lost tonight, but I did my best. I don’t know. Let me rest first and relax (before) I make the decision of whether I will fight or not.

“I will make a final announcement (about running for president) next month. I know that I am facing a big problem that’s more difficult than boxing but I want to help the people. I want to help them. I will make a final announcement next month.”

From our corner, we tweeted yesterday this unsolicited advice for him: “Don’t run for president. Mag-endorse ka na lang. Commit funds and time to pro-poor advocacy. Continue Bible study. Ingat ka sa Covid at sa magnanakaw. You’ll be OK!”

While training in California for the fight, Pacquiao must have been distracted no end by the political noise back home. It must have been difficult, for instance, keeping his mind away from his ouster as president of the PDP-Laban party in his absence.

He had already announced his intention to run for president when a faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi nominated President Duterte as the party’s bet for vice president and gave him a free hand to choose his aide Bong Go as his presidential running mate.

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Pacquiao’s defeat will dampen the excitement over his champion attraction because most Filipinos want identification with a winner. They want to be on the side of the bida (hero) always. That is why politicians commission surveys purporting to show their alleged popularity.

A decision to run for president would depend not only on Pacquiao’s assessment of the political lay of the land and his chances of winning, but also on his personal relationship with influential figures, including President Duterte, and power brokers.

Pacquiao still has considerable mass following, but it may not be enough to clinch victory.

Unlike others who run for the funds of it, the question to ask in his case is why run if he would lose anyway?

It would make more sense for him to just support the candidate who best reflects his political views, and whose best intentions for the people coincide with his.

It could also happen that a person would support a winnable or relatively strong candidate to be able to bring down or get even with big politicians who had done him much harm over time.

This talk about Pacquiao, btw, should not draw attention away from the win in the undercard of another Filipino, Mark Magsayo, via a 10th-round knockout of Julio Ceja. Magsayo, 26, has thus risen to be the No. 1 contender for the WBC featherweight title held by Gary Russell Jr.

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Lacson resigns as vice chair of Senate finance panel

 

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On Manny Pacquiao's Fight Against Yordenis Ugas

On Manny Pacquiao's Fight Against Yordenis Ugas

Manny Pacquiao is and will always be the People's Champ who has brought unprecedented honor to our country.

I don't think there will be another boxer in the world who can equal his feat, at least not in the next 100 years. That, plus his big heart for the poor and the downtrodden.

On both counts, he is the Champion we Filipinos will always love and admire.

 

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Lacson Tenders Resignation of Finance Committee Posts to Focus on Intensified Scrutiny of 2022 Budget, COA Red Flags

Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson has tendered his resignation as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, and as Chairman of the panel’s Subcommittee C, to give himself more time to focus on scrutinizing the P5.024-trillion budget for 2022, as well as to address the advent of red flags raised by the Commission on Audit in its audit reports of several agencies.

Lacson said the COA’s red flags indicate the “blatant inefficiency, unconscionable incompetence and worse, probable misuse and abuse of public funds in virtually the entire government.”

“I trust that it is to the greatest interest of our people to once and for all, ferret out the truth behind these reports, put value to the oft-ignored COA mandate, and ensure that there will be no ‘sacred cows’ in making accountable those who have blundered the effective and proper use of public monies,” he said in his letter to Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III.

Basahin sa TAGALOG: Ping, Nag-Resign sa Senate Finance Committee

Lacson, who earned a reputation as a watchdog of the national budget, also reassured the Senate leadership that he will “actively participate in the budget deliberations and reinforce the democratic system of checks and balances.”

As chairman of Finance Subcommittee C, Lacson sponsored the annual budgets of the:

* Department of Information and Communications Technology and its attached agencies

* Department of National Defense and its attached agencies

* Commission on Human Rights

* Dangerous Drugs Board

* Mindanao Development Authority

* Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process

* Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency

* Presidential Legislative Liaison Office

* Southern Philippines Development Authority

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