2 legislators demand big commissions from gov’t projects, says Senator Lacson

MANILA, Philippines—Two legislators have been allegedly using their congressional allocations known as ‘pork barrel’ to get commissions from government projects, Senator Panfilo Lacson disclosed on Thursday.

Lacson said the legislators, who he refused to identify, were demanding 10 percent to 15 percent commission from the contractors.

“I won’t tell you kung senador or congressman. Actual yun na naiparating sa akin na mayroong legislator na nanghihingi ng 15 percent sa kanyang mga proyekto. Tumatawad yung contractor kung pwedeng 10 percent na lang kasi mababa na yung kanilang mark up (I was informed that there’s a legislator demanding a 15-percent commission from his projects. The contractor was haggling to make it 10 percent),”he told reporters.

The senator later corrected himself and said that there were actually two legislators who were asking their shares from the government projects amounting to hundreds of millions.

Lacson also refused to say whether or not the legislators were allied with the administration, saying “I won’t comment on that. Of course I know kung kaalyado o hindi but I won’t tell you.”

He said the deal was still under negotiation and once he gets more details or evidence of the transaction he would immediately report it to the President.

Lacson made the revelation when asked by a reporter about his continued refusal to accept the “pork barrel” despite Aquino’s promise to get rid of corruption under his leadership.

In fact, the senator said, he was offered by the President to accept his ‘pork barrel’ and he ‘gave it a thought’ until he received the reports about the two legislators.

But Lacson pointed out that the 10 to 15 percent commissions being asked now by the two legislators were too small compared to the 20 to 35 percent being asked in the past.

And the senator attributed this to Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson’s decision to reduce the cost estimate of government projects.

“Kasi kung binaba na, say 10 or 15 percent, maliit na lang yung paglalaruan, ‘yung flexibility and I salute Secretary Singson for that,” Lacson explained.