Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Thursday, December 25, warned that Malacañang’s dismissal of allegations on multibillion-peso Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget insertions as “hearsay” could be construed as a possible “cover-up,” saying the controversy has “spoiled Christmas.”
In a text message to The Situation Report on December 25, Lacson said that in this case, branding the allegations as “hearsay” is effectively another word for “cover-up.”
“Nakakasira ng Pasko. In this case, ‘hearsay’ is another word for ‘cover-up,'” Lacson said.
Lacson criticized what he described as the premature rejection of the allegations instead of pursuing an “honest-to-goodness inter-agency investigation” using testimonies and official documents already on record.
The lawmaker said hearings of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, including sworn testimonies supported by budget books and admissions against interest, should be treated as having probative value.
He added that the possible discovery of a “web of accounts,” as initiated by the Anti-Money Laundering Council, should be allowed to proceed to trace the money trail linked to the alleged plunder of public funds.
“Instead of pursuing an honest-to-goodness inter-agency investigation by using whatever probative value which the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings, among others – testimonies, supported by official documents in the budget books like lists of items that corroborate the testimonies of resource persons whose involvement in the plunder of public funds have been clearly established through their admission against interest and under oath at that, not to mention the possible discovery of the “web of accounts” as initiated by the AMLC to follow the money trail – to prematurely dismiss the probable involvement of some members of the cabinet as ‘hearsay’ may be interpreted as euphemism for ‘cover-up,'” Lacson said.
Lacson said that by dismissing the claims outright, Malacañang risks deepening public anger and distrust toward government, sentiments he noted are being voiced by the Catholic Church, other religious sectors, and civil society groups.
“In the final analysis, we cannot blame the public, led by the Catholic Church, other religious sectors and civil society groups for their unrelenting display of anger and distrust in government,” he warned.
Lacson was reacting to statements from Malacañang on December 24 dismissing as “hearsay” claims that some Cabinet secretaries were allegedly listed as proponents of DPWH budget insertions.
Malacañang Press Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Palace would only respond to documents authenticated by the Department of Public Works and Highways, stressing that claims coursed through unofficial channels would be treated as “hearsay” or “tsismis” with no probative value.
In response, Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste said documents allegedly given to him by late DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral had already been presented to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and the Office of the Ombudsman prior to Cabral’s death on December 19.
