Lacson mulls filing raps vs some senators over possible abuse of Senate funds

Senator Panfilo Lacson. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Panfilo Lacson said he is planning to file graft charges against some of his colleagues, who may be proven to have used Senate funds for personal needs, including  groceries for family members.

In an interview over radio Thursday morning, Lacson called on the Commission on Audit to look into “possible abuse” allegedly committed by some of his colleagues in the Senate.

“I have some information that may assist the COA in their audit/investigation such as but not limited to  use of Senate funds to pay rental fees and repairs of his or her satellite office inside his or her own building, including in his/her office payroll his or her own housemaids and disbursement of MOOE as grocery allowance of his/her husband or son,” the senator said in a text message to reporters later in the day.

“The desired end state of my proposal is to file graft charges against the senator/s concerned if the evidence warrants.  Incidentally, these documents are all in the records of the Senate,” said Lacson, who is chairman of the Senate  committee on accounts.

Lacson did not identify  the colleague he was referring to during the radio interview but in a separate text message,  he said this  colleague who has been making the Senate pay for his/her personal needs was one and the same.

“All I can say is, isang senador lang yung mga maids sa bahay sa Senate naka payroll, yung asawa, may grocery allowance sa Senate at yung satellite office rental, sarili niyang property,” he said.

Lacson’s statements came just a day after his verbal tussle with Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago over the P2.2 million additional maintenance and other operating expenses given to 18 senators last year.