Ping: Miriam used ‘pork’ to build cockpit
TO build a case against his arch-nemesis, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has started looking into allegations that Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago used her Priority Development Assistance Fund, or the “pork barrel’ to fund the construction of a cockpit arena in Pasig City.
Lacson on Thursday said that he already started gathering documents and pieces of evidence to build a case against Santiago before the Office of the Ombudsman.
“May sinisimulan akong imbestigahan ngayon, ‘yung paggamit niya ng ‘pork barrel’ under the guise na sports complex ‘yung ipapagawa eh cockpit arena ang pinatatayo [I have started an investigation into the use of her ‘pork barrel’ to construct a
SEN. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has told The Manila Times that he will accept President Benigno Aquino 3rd’s offer to give him a position in his Cabinet.
“It’s very difficult to refuse when the one making the offer is your friend,” Lacson said, referring to the President, who publicly announced in a political rally in Cavite province that he will appoint Lacson as a member of his Cabinet.
But Lacson refused to give a definite answer when asked if he will accept the position of executive secretary, which is presently held by Paquito Ochoa.
“Let’s just leave it to him [Aquino]. After all, the power to appoint is with him,” he said.
Rumors that Ochoa could be re- placed surfaced after the Presidential Anti- crime Commission, which he heads, allegedly participated in the approval of an operation leading to the Atimonan bloodbath last month.
With the increasing number of crime incidents in the country, some sectors are reportedly backing the appointment of Lacson as anti-crime czar in Aquino’s government.
The senator previously served as chief of the Philippine National Police during former president Joseph “Erap” Estrada’s administration, and also headed the Presidential Anti-Crime Task Force.
Lacson, whose term as senator will end in June this year, is a member of Aquino’s Liberal Party.