Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has proposed a possible approach to help the government recover billions of pesos allegedly lost to anomalous flood-control projects.
In an interview with DZMM Teleradyo on Saturday, October 11, Lacson suggested reducing the jail sentences of those proven guilty of corruption involving “ghost projects” if they agree to return up to 80 percent of the money they stole.
“Ang naisip ko lang dahil may mga imbestigasyon na ginawa […] halimbawa man na mayroong nasasangkot. Politicians man, DPWH man, o contractors man,” Lacson said.
He added, “Halimbawa sa pag-iimbestiga ay nakapag-pre bargaining sila, agreements sa gobyerno at nagsuli man lang ng sabihin na nating 80% no’ng kanilang loot in exchange for shorter or shortened jail terms.”
According to the senator, this arrangement could allow the government to recover a significant amount from the ₱33 billion lost to ghost projects: “80 percent of 33 billion [pesos] napunta sa ghost projects, easily that’s at least 26 billion pesos. ‘Yon ang mare-recover natin dahil sa mga nakulimbat nila,” he explained.
Lacson clarified that his proposal does not mean compromising the integrity of the justice system. Rather, it combines accountability and restitution — ensuring both punishment and recovery of stolen public funds.
“Pero wala pa ring compromise kasi ang pinag-uusapan natin dito [ay] restitution plus retribution. Hindi naman puwedeng restitution lang, libre na sila,” Lacson emphasized.
He further noted that such an arrangement could be initiated by the courts or the Office of the Ombudsman, especially with Justice Secretary Boying Remulla’s leadership: “If I may suggest sa ating mga Korte o kaya sa ating Ombudsman lalo’t bago nga si Sec. [Boying] Remulla […] kasi hindi mo naman expect na makiki-cooperate fully ‘yan kung walang pre bargaining,” he added.
While “pre bargaining” is not a common practice in the Philippines, Lacson said it is still possible if government and defense lawyers agree to discuss a settlement: “Hindi uso sa atin ‘yong pre bargaining pero puwede namang magkaroon ng pag-uusap sa pamamagitan ng abogado ng gobyerno at saka abogado ng isasakdal o ‘yong mga nasasakdal,” he said.
Lacson believes that if this approach is applied — including in other government programs proven to involve corruption — it could help the government recover a substantial portion of the nation’s lost funds.