Dennis Gasgonia

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ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Senator Panfilo &quot;Ping&quot;Lacson on Saturday said public outrage over government irregularities &quot;should not lessen&quot; so long as people remain non-violent.Even as the government has issued arrest warrants against ex-Rep. Elizaldy Co and several others tied to anomalous flood control projects, the Senate President Pro Tempore said the public should keep its pressure on authorities.Lacson said Malacanang, the Office of the Ombudsman, and the Department of Justice cannot afford to ease up because those involved would be emboldened to try again if the culture of impunity continues.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/20/lacson-stands-by-defense-of-marcos-jr-on-zaldy-co-s-claims-1753">Lacson stands by defense of Marcos Jr. on Zaldy Co&#x27;s claims</a></div>&quot;I don&#x27;t want public outrage to lessen, so long as people remain non-violent. If public anger diminishes, government might slacken their efforts,&quot; said Lacson in Filipino in an interview on DWIZ radio. &quot;As of now, they are working because of the pressure from our people. But this is so long as the outrage does not turn violent, like the Sept. 21 protest where some protesters damaged some traffic lights... No matter how many, no matter how long it takes, get to the bottom to achieve the logical conclusion.&quot; He said the government&#x27;s actions last Friday is enough proof to cause some critics to &quot;eat their words&quot; that Co is &quot;untouchable.&quot;Lacson noted the reports of Co being sighted in Japan may show the Interpol is watching his moves, and can arrest him once it receives a copy of his arrest warrant.&quot;He has to ride a plane and pass through immigration, so he can be tracked. He just cannot be arrested as of now because he is not yet on the Interpol&#x27;s red notice list since they have no copy of his arrest warrant. Still, he&#x27;s on their radar,&quot; he said.Should Co be arrested and brought back to the Philippines, there is a chance he could be brought before the Blue Ribbon Committee. But Lacson added that if Co&#x27;s case has reached the Sandiganbayan by then, the committee must take measures to avoid breaking the sub judice principle, or discussing the merits of the case against Co before the anti-graft court.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/18/lacson-clears-marcos-in-zaldy-co-s-kickback-claims-blames-undersecretaries-instead-1551">Lacson clears Marcos in Zaldy Co’s kickback claims, says two officials &#x27;misrepresented&#x27; President</a></div>Meanwhile, Lacson said the number of personalities who could be implicated could reach 2,000 or higher.This as the 1,200 initially estimated by Independent Commission for Infrastructure Commissioner Rogelio Singson is based only on the 420 ghost projects out of 8,000 initially inspected. During the last Blue Ribbon hearing, he said the number of suspected ghost projects had gone up to about 472. &quot;It&#x27;s so widespread that not just 1,200 could be implicated. It could be 2,000 or more,&quot; Lacson said.<div> </div>

Lacson said the number of personalities who could be implicated in the flood controil projects mess could reach 2,000 or higher.

Lacson said the number of personalities who could be implicated in the flood controil projects mess could reach 2,000 or higher.

Lacson on gov't irregularities: 'Stay angry, but not violent'

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Lacson on gov't irregularities: 'Stay angry, but not violent'

Dennis Gasgonia,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 22, 2025 05:53 PM PHT

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Panfilo Lacson

Zaldy Co

Protestrs

Flood Control Projects

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