Senator Panfilo "Ping" declared on Saturday, Aug. 23 that senators were not beyond suspicion in the controversy on anomalous and "ghost" flood control projects.

Lacson claimed that both his fellow senators and House members introduced insertions or amendments in the national budget bill, thus his repeated calls for transparency in the budgeting process.

"I am not saying it's just members of the House. It is possible that some senators introduce insertions for such projects, and may even profit from the 25 percent share for the 'funder' or proponent of the insertions from the flood control project costs," he said in Filipino in an interview on DZRH radio.

"I'll put it this way. There may be senators and House members who may be connected to anomalous flood control projects," he said in a separate interview on DZMM, when asked if there are senators who may have ties to the questionable projects.

When asked why no specific senator has so far been linked to the mess, Lacson said it is not right to mention names without proof. In his case, Lacson said he would make public his findings only after they have solid, factual basis.

Lacson noted that both senators and House members can propose insertions to the budget, with their respective motivations. These may range from helping their constituents to fulfilling campaign "promises" - or even to fill their pockets with commissions out of their individual insertions, legally known as amendments.

He added that lawmakers who propose insertions for infrastructure projects may have the "right" to choose the contractors for the projects.

"When you insert, you have claim, or royalty, or the right to choose the contractor for the project," he said.

Lacson says this is why he has been fighting for full transparency in the budget process, including putting on record the names of solons proposing amendments to the budget.

Such full transparency, where proponents of insertions are publicly identified, not only allows the public to know where their taxes go but also acts as a deterrent to those making insertions for questionable projects.

"It will be easier to trace anomalous or ghost projects to the congressman or senator who proposed insertions for it," he said.

Otherwise, Lacson said that without full transparency in the budget, the "hubris" that fueled the systemic and organized corruption behind anomalous and ghost flood control projects, such as in the first engineering district in Bulacan, will continue.

"It's hubris. Those involved in the corruption have become overconfident such that they disregard public perception, opinion and need. They close their eyes to the public in favor of their greed, thus the ghost projects so that all those involved will profit," he said.