Latest news with #Panfilo'Ping'Lacson
GMA Network
11-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Senators push for law vs. political dynasties
At least three senators have filed bills for the incoming 20th Congress seeking to prohibit political dynasties in the Philippines. Senators Robin Padilla and Panfilo 'Ping' Lacson included in their respective top 10 bills the proposed measures on anti-political dynasty. Meanwhile, Senator Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan filed the same as listed in his second set of priority legislative measures for the upcoming Congress. Pangilinan said that the Anti-Political Dynasty Act, which aims to provide equal access to opportunities for public office and public service to any qualified Filipino, is a 'long time coming.' Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro earlier said that President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. will study the refiled bills in Congress, including the proposed measures on anti-political dynasty. An anti-political dynasty bill was also recently refiled at the House of Representatives by the Makabayan bloc. Under House Bill 209 filed by ACT Teachers Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio and Kabataan Party-list Representative, a political dynasty is defined as a family or clan that concentrates, consolidates, or perpetuates their political power by holding public office simultaneously or successively. The bill states that no person shall hold or run for any elective national or local office simultaneously with another within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, whether legitimate or illegitimate, full or half blood. It adds that no person within the prohibited civil degree of relationship to an incumbent elected official shall immediately succeed to the position of the latter.—AOL, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
03-07-2025
- Health
- Filipino Times
Lacson files bill to ban minors from social media
Senator Panfilo 'Ping' Lacson has filed a bill seeking to regulate the use of social media by minors in the Philippines, citing increasing concerns over its impact on children's mental health and exposure to online risks. The proposed legislation aims to prohibit individuals under 18 years of age from using or accessing social media accounts. It also mandates social media platforms to implement stringent user verification processes, such as ID authentication and facial recognition and to conduct regular audits to detect and remove underage users. The measure cites a United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) study highlighting the vulnerability of minors to cyberbullying, online harassment, and body image pressures exacerbated by digital platforms. 'Taking inspiration from this model, and in adherence to our State's declared policy of promoting and protecting the mental and emotional well-being of its children, this bill is being proposed to protect Filipino children below 18 years old from online risks and harmful content,' Lacson said. Under the bill, social media companies and internet service providers that fail to comply with the regulations may face penalties in accordance with the Data Privacy Act and other applicable administrative, civil, or criminal sanctions.
Filipino Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Filipino Times
Lacson supports marcos' budget oversight, hontiveros warns of constitutional limits
Senator-elect Panfilo 'Ping' Lacson and Senator Risa Hontiveros are at odds over President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s plan to observe the upcoming national budget deliberations. The Department of Budget and Management earlier said the President intends to monitor the entire budget process to ensure alignment with government priorities. Lacson welcomed the move, saying it could strengthen discipline in Congress—as long as Marcos does not interfere in bicameral conference committee discussions. 'It will send a clear and very strong signal to the members of Congress not to make a mockery of our role in the budget process… and that we should not treat the national budget as individual prerogatives,' Lacson said in a statement. However, Hontiveros raised constitutional concerns over the president's involvement, stressing the limited role of the executive in the budget process. 'The power of the purse is wielded by Congress and Congress alone,' she said during a media forum. 'Walang papel ang presidente bilang observer sa bicam sa Konstitusyon. 'Pag pinilit 'yan baka magkaroon pa sila ng problema, baka kasuhan sila.'The debate comes amid legal challenges to the P6.3-trillion 2025 national budget, currently pending before the Supreme Court. Critics have flagged blank allocations and the zero subsidy for PhilHealth as signs of potential abuse.
