Here you can find official photos, videos, speeches and statements of Senator Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson. The #PingBills section contains bills, resolutions and committee reports by Sen. Lacson in the 18th Congress. The #Usaping Katotohanan section seeks to correct misimpressions about Sen. Lacson and his advocacies.
Sen. Lacson is part of the Philippine delegation that participated in the 141st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and related meetings in Belgrade, Serbia. Other members of the Philippine delegation include Senate President Tito Sotto, Ralph Recto, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Franklin Drilon, Imee Marcos, Nancy Binay, Sherwin Gatchalian, Bato dela Rosa, Joel Villanueva and Sonny Angara; and Reps. Ferdinand Hernandez and Carlos Zarate.
MORE NOTES:
Continue reading “AT WORK: At the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s 141st Assembly in Serbia”
I have mixed feelings about the way P/Gen. Oscar Albayalde, now ex-Chief PNP, has abruptly ended his police service more than three weeks before his compulsory retirement. His statements prior to his formal announcement today to relinquish command of the 190,000-strong police force have somehow diminished the redeeming value of his intent to spare the PNP from the so-called ‘ninja cops’ controversies.
Being a PMA graduate myself, I feel sad whenever fellow Peemayers slug it out publicly over issues that hit the very core of the unique and exclusive cadet honor system which has nurtured us for four arduous years to prepare ourselves to resist the moral challenges and temptations once we step out of the Academy.
Continue reading “On Gen. Albayalde’s Stepping Down as PNP Chief”
[Video Courtesy: Senate PRIB]
At the hearing on corruption and the recycling of drugs, Sen. Lacson smelled a ‘lutong makaw’ in the case of 13 police officers tagged in a controversial anti-drug operation in Pampanga in 2013.
Lacson also questioned the seeming special treatment for P/Maj Rodney Baloyo IV, who was transferred to Tagaytay where he became OIC ‘by design.’
Earlier, Lacson moved to have SPO1 Ronald Santos cited in contempt, for his failure to attend previous Senate inquiries even after being subpoenaed. Santos was among those 13 police officers tagged for grave misconduct in a controversial anti-drug operation in November 2013.
QUOTES and NOTES:
Continue reading “‘Nagkalutuan?’: At the Hearing on ‘Ninja Cops’”
In an interview on DZBB, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– continued drug recycling by P/Maj Baloyo’s ‘colleagues’ who are still out there
– fate of Chief PNP Albayalde and race for his successor
– generals reportedly involved in drug trade
QUOTES AND NOTES:
Continue reading “Interview on DZBB: Baloyo Pa More; Gen. Albayalde’s Fate | Oct. 6, 2019”
To the Manila Standard: Please allow us to disabuse the minds of the public regarding the column of Mr. Ernesto Hilario where he extensively quotes statements from the House Speaker and his deputies, including the accusation that Senator Lacson is an obstructionist “out to derail the reform programs of President Duterte.” Nothing could be further from the truth.
Continue reading “Letter to the Editor: Who is the real obstructionist here? [Manila Standard]”
In an interview on DZMM, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– advice to PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde amid present controversy
– demoralization in PNP due to ‘ninja cops’
– legislative remedies vs rogue cops
– Bilibid inmates’ subsistence allowance
QUOTES and NOTES:
Continue reading “Interview on DZMM: Advice to CPNP Albayalde; ‘Ninja Cops’ | Oct. 4, 2019”
Sen. Lacson chaired the resumption of the hearing on the 2020 budget of the PDEA and DDB, where the problem of recycling of seized illegal drugs was taken up. Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta and Court Administrator Midas Marquez attended the hearing, upon the Senate’s investigation.
Sen. Lacson cited the problem raised by the PDEA in the previous budget hearing. “Right now, what’s stocked in the warehouse of PDEA is P22B worth of different kinds of drugs. We don’t know because the problem exists as PDEA claims, they have to wait for a court order before they can finally destroy the drugs confiscated. We’d like to find out anong magandang gawin para di ma-recycle ang drugs on account of stocking.”
Related: Sen. Lacson Chairs the 2020 Budget Hearings for PDEA and DDB
QUOTES and NOTES:
Continue reading “How to Stop Drug Recycling? Sen. Lacson Chairs the 2020 Budget Hearings of PDEA, DDB”
[Video Courtesy: Senate PRIB]
At the hearing on corruption and the recycling of drugs, Sen. Lacson moved to have P/Maj Rodney Raymond Louie Baloyo IV, relieved head of Pampanga police intel branch, cited in contempt after catching several inconsistencies in his statements on an anti-drug operation in November 2013.
Earlier during the hearing, Lacson questioned why inmates at Bilibid are still being given only P39 worth of meals a day, when the 2019 budget increased their subsistence allowance to P70 a day. Lacson warned the realignment of the funds would be tantamount to technical malversation.
Lacson also scored the revelation by former BuCor OIC Rafael Ragos that the NBP director would get P1M a month from the subsistence allowance. He also questioned Atty. Fredric Santos why he notarized documents of bidders for catering services , when he is an NBP insider and a member of the Bids and Awards Committee.
Related: ‘Do Not Test Our Patience’: At the Hearing on ‘Ninja Cops’
QUOTES and NOTES:
Continue reading “‘Masyadong Mahalay’: At the Hearing on Corruption and Recycling of Drugs”
“We need a legal framework for anti-terrorism that is clear, concise, balanced, and rational.” – Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson, in his sponsorship speech on Oct. 2, 2019
Related: Sponsorship Speech for the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2019 (18th Congress)
Continue reading “At a Glance: The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2019 (18th Congress)”
Thank you, Mr. President. Distinguished colleagues, I have the honor to report on the Senate floor Senate Bill No. 1083 entitled “An Act Amending Certain Provisions of Republic Act No. 9372,” otherwise Known as “An Act to Secure the State and Protect Our People from Terrorism,” as embodied in Committee Report No. 9 in substitution of Senate Bill Numbers 6, 21, and 30.
The amendment to the Human Security Act of 2007 is among the unfinished business of the 17th Congress. Almost eight months ago, I stood here to sponsor the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2019. Unfortunately, time was not on our side to deliberate on the said measure. Since then, the Filipino people have already been confronted by a number of terrorist attacks. As we speak, terrorist groups are probably planning their next attacks.
Mr. President, we have seen a mutation in the way terrorist groups perpetrate their evil acts since the passage of the Human Security Act. We have seen the phenomenon of terrorism become more complex and malevolent. We have seen how the ISIS’ tactics have changed as the terror group continues to lose ground in Iraq and Syria, how their members and sympathizers are taking the fight here in Southeast Asia.
Related: At a Glance: The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2019 (18th Congress)
Continue reading “Sponsorship Speech for the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2019 (18th Congress)”
