MANILA, Philippines—Mounting pressure from the Commission on Audit (COA) has forced the Senate leadership to close the office of fugitive Sen. Panfilo Lacson.
Lacson’s colleagues arrived at the decision in an emergency caucus in the middle of their session last Wednesday, according to one senator, who asked not to be identified. “It was unanimous,” he told the Inquirer.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile gathered senators that afternoon after he learned that the COA was poised to question disbursements made by Lacson’s office without the fugitive lawmaker’s certification.
The COA apparently needed Lacson to personally certify expenses culled from budget items such as the maintenance and other operating expenses and capital outlay under his office.
Lacson fled the country early this year before the court could issue an arrest warrant against him in connection with the murder of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in 2000.
Lacson denied involvement in the killing and alleged that the previous administration of President Macapagal-Arroyo was out to persecute him. He is yet to return despite the change in leadership.
Sought for comment, Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said there was “no politics involved” in the Senate’s decision to close Lacson’s office and withdraw its funding.
“This is nothing personal,” he said in a phone interview.
During the caucus, the Inquirer informant said one senator even suggested that the Senate “declare abandonment” in the case of the missing Lacson. But the majority prevailed with the sentiment that such a move would be “too harsh.”
“The best recourse was to stop his office and let the Senate secretariat absorb his employees—around 20 of them—so they won’t lose their jobs,” the source said.
The source said senators were also open to reopening Lacson’s office once he returns to the country to face the criminal charges against him.
Source: Inquirer
