Bribery and Collusion in World Bank Projects (2009)

Summary:

The allegations of bribery and collusion in infrastructure projects funded by the World Bank led anew to the doorstep of Malacañang, after excerpts of a World Bank report obtained by Lacson cited contractors who said bribes must pass through influential personalities such as First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and some politicians, including a former senator.  In a Senate hearing on the matter, Lacson also bared a personal appointment book of Atty. Arroyo showing he met with Eduardo de Luna, one of the contractors blacklisted by the World Bank, at least 20 times in 2002 alone.

Effect:

Lacson's expose of excerpts of the WB report served to foil the silence of the Office of the Ombudsman, which received a copy of the WB report through the Department of Finance as early as November 2007.  But more importantly, Lacson is now working on remedial legislation to strengthen the government's procurement laws, proposing that companies blacklisted by the WB and other foreign agencies also be barred from participating in local infrastructure projects.