Lacson slams ‘corruption’ in use of calamity fund

MANILA, Philippines —  Senator Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday slammed the alleged corruption in the allocation of the calamity fund, including the alleged overprice in the procurement of materials to be given to victims of calamities.

Speaking to reporters, Lacson bewailed that the “phenomenon called corruption” has been unabated, despite President Rodrigo Duterte, himself a self-proclaimed anti-corruption advocate, at the helm, and with a number of number of people, including legislators and former officials, already being sent to jail for such crimes.

“There’s also a lot to be desired pagdating sa paggastos ng calamity fund dahil may mga overpricing din e,”  Lacson said, when asked about the reported P4-billion cut in the calamity fund allotted for this year.

Emergency procurement in times of calamity, he said, is often allowed some leniency especially if there is a certification exempting the purchase of materials from bidding.

Despite this, the senator said there are still reports of “overpricing” and ghost “deliveries.”

“I don’t know what’s happening to this country. Hindi na  talaga natuto at wala na halos nagbabago in spite of the oft-repeated threats being dished out by the President no less pero tuloy-tuloy pa rin. Why? Ang tanong, bakit? Bakit ganoon?” he said.

(I don’t know what’s happening to this country. We didn’t really learn and nothing has changed in spite of the oft-repeated threats being dished out by the President no less  but (corruption) still persists. Why? The question is why?)

“Something must be wrong somewhere. Baka kulang pa ang dikdik ni Presidente. or baka I don’t know, I dont know really bakit.… Ang dami na ring nakulong,” he added.