Lacson to expose alleged corruption in BOC

Sen. Panfilo Lacson is set to come up with his first exposè under the Aquino administration, this time about alleged corruption in the Bureau of Customs (BOC). “Right now we’re looking at corruption in BOC," Lacson told reporters in an interview on Monday. Without elaborating, he said those involved in the alleged corruption are “middle to lower level" officials. So far, he said, they do not have proof that higher officials benefit from the illegal activity. “May mga information pero hazy, very sketchy ang mga reports, subject to verification (We have information but it’s very hazy. We have very sketchy reports that are subject to verification). I will make the expose after we have sufficient evidence," he said. Lacson said he will immediately inform President Benigno Aquino III about the matter once he collects “solid" information. “[I want to] find out what action the President will take on the matter," he said. Back to work Lacson on Monday attended a Senate session for the first time since he came out of hiding last March, more than a year after leaving the country to evade what he said was a campaign of “political persecution" being mounted against him by the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, of which he was a staunch critic. (See: Lacson back in PHL from HK after hiding for over a year) He returned to the country more than a month after the Court of Appeals ordered with finality the nullification of the arrest warrants issued against him, as well as of the charges lodged against him for his alleged involvement in the November 2000 killing of publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito . (See: CA junks murder case vs Lacson, drops arrest warrant) During Monday’s session, Lacson was elected as the chairman of the Senate committee on accounts and national defense and security, which was previously handled by Sen. Francis Escudero. He is also expected to join the Commission on Appointments (CA), replacing Sen. Gregorio Honasan. But despite the heavy workload, Lacson said he is bent on catching up on lost time. “I feel like a neophyte again, parang bagong elect na nangangapa sa Senate (it’s like I was newly elected to the Senate)," he said. Lacson, however, is still facing an ethics complaint earlier filed by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) against him for his failure to surrender himself to proper authorities; fleeing the country to evade arrest; and his continued absence from the Senate sessions. - KBK, GMA News