Statements

Letter to the Editor: Reply to Walden Bello [Rappler]

To Rappler: We wish to set the record straight regarding the claim made by Walden Bello in his opinion article “De Lima vs Duterte duel enters critical phase,” posted Aug. 15, 2021 – where he supposedly quoted Sen. Leila de Lima as accusing Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson of being among the supposed “enablers and conspirators” of President Rodrigo Duterte.

August 16, 2021

THE EDITORS
Rappler
Ortigas Center, Pasig City

Dear Sir/Ma’am:

We wish to set the record straight regarding the claim made by Walden Bello in his opinion article “De Lima vs Duterte duel enters critical phase,” posted Aug. 15, 2021 – where he supposedly quoted Sen. Leila de Lima as accusing Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson of being among the supposed “enablers and conspirators” of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Nothing could be further than the truth.

First, Sen. Lacson has called out the President on key national issues, such as his lack of consistency in dealing with corruption; and a defeatist attitude in dealing with China’s intrusion into our exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea.

Second, Sen. Lacson co-authored Senate Resolution 51, seeking to allow Sen. de Lima to participate in plenary sessions through teleconferencing or other forms of remote or electronic communications.

Third, Sen. Lacson even helped expedite the medical furlough of Sen. de Lima granted by the court earlier this year, for “health and humanitarian” reasons.

Fourth, as Sen. Lacson and Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III continue to offer themselves as an alternative to provide Filipinos with the leaders they need – not DDS or Dilawan, but pro-Filipino – they are not playing safe but siding with what is right, and more importantly, calling out what is wrong.

Finally, Mr. Bello and Sen. de Lima may want to expand their readings to include no less than the Bible itself: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor” (Exodus 20:16); and “A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.” (Proverbs 19:5).

We hope this clarifies matters. Thank you very much.

Respectfully yours

Joel Locsin
Media Relations Officer
Office of Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson