Sen. Ping Lacson:
The most qualified, the most competent, the most experienced candidate.
Senator
Panfilo “Ping” has once again proven he is truly the corruption-buster “Mr. Clean” he is touted to be. In recent articles, the presidential candidate
known for
his strong anti-corruption stance, was recently vindicated for previous crimes
he was unjustly accused of during the Arroyo administration. No less than former President Sen. Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo, in her recently launched memoir entitled “Deus Ex Machina,” admitted that the accusations against Sen Lacson were fake.
“The information
that was made public could not be substantiated,”
GMA wrote in her memoir.
Years later, Marquez recanted accusations against Sen Lacson and
apologized. Corpus also issued a publicly televised apology to Lacson for falsely accusing the
senator.
True to
form, the magnanimous Lacson did not hurl vindictive comments against his accusers. Instead, he tweeted a forgiving message to his
former detractor. “Late is always better than never. To ex-PGMA’s credit, she
has the decency and courage to admit that she publicly and unjustly accused me
of various crimes based of false information. Whatever, I have already forgiven
her a long time ago.”
Even in the
thick of the present presidential election, Lacson maintains his nonbelligerent
stance, preferring not to say anything about the other candidates
wanting to be President of the Philippines because he is also running for the
position.
In his recent interview session with Boy Abunda for
the television personality’s series 2022 Presidential One-on-One Interviews,
Lacson, one of five presidential candidates who were invited to the show, chose to talk
instead about what made him best suited for the highest position in the
Philippines.
“I am the most qualified, the
most competent, the most experienced (candidate),” he told Abunda
matter-of-factly without mentioning any of his rivals.
The candidate said it was
time for voters to be discerning, to realize that politics was not
entertainment and they should not be influenced by dole-outs.
In his campaign sorties, a
singing and dancing Lacson would certainly not be on the program. “I won’t
sacrifice authenticity,” he said, and would not do anything that had nothing to
do with the country’s problems.
“The number one problem is the
government, so the solution is the government- good, honest governance,” he
said.
Lacson stressed, “Tough problems need
tough solutions from the country’s top leaders.” His goal, if elected
president, was to leave the country better off than when he started and see a
greater respect for government officials.
Although he acknowledged that the
qualifications for presidential candidates were so much simpler than those
required of job applicants, the senator also pointed out that college degrees do
not guarantee outstanding public service.
“Maraming
may PhD na mas magaling magnakaw kaysa magsilbi sa bayan (there are many
people with doctoral degrees who are very skilled in stealing public funds than
in serving the country),” he said.
He would not oppose though some
changes in the qualifications, although it would require a constitutional
amendment. The job was demanding, he pointed out, and it called for skills in
handling crises like the still ongoing corona virus disease 2019 (Covid-19)
pandemic.
Lacson said he would lead by example
if he were elected president. He recalled that he was able to minimize graft
and corruption in the Philippine National Police when he was its chief by
consistently showing he could not be bribed. It was his leadership by example,
he said, that drastically reduced, if not totally eliminated, corruption in the
police establishment.
As a senator, he did not collect the
pork barrel, or extra funds allocated to legislators ostensibly to finance pet
projects. He was able to save the country millions of pesos by carefully and
thoroughly reviewing every proposed annual budget of the government, he said.
Lacson would push for digitization and automation in
government as president so there would be no human intervention. He said,
“Human intervention always resulted in corruption.”
Lacson supported the resumption of
mining in the country, “a major industry” of the Philippines, but it should be
sustainable and responsible. “It must be data-driven and science-based.”
However, he also expressed concern
that corruption would create the same problems as before. “Corruption lets
violators get away (with their crimes). Palakasan
(pull or influence) allowed people with the right connections to do as they
please.”
Lacson’s vice presidential candidate is Senate President
Vicente “Tito” C. Sotto III.
For more info on
Ping Lacson, follow https://www.facebook.com/PingLacsonOfficial.
