A “doable” good governance and leadership by example will be the main values championed by former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson should he earn a seat in the Senate in 2025.
Lacson said leaders who are entrusted with authority must use their mandate to protect the weak and helpless from the greed and abuses of others – including those who betray their mandate.
“We have a primary objective in mind: protect the weak and the helpless from the greed and abuses of the others similarly given equal authority and power, but turned their backs on promises made when campaigning to secure the mandate with an entirely different and malevolent motive of abusing their power and authority for self-aggrandizement,” he said at a gathering with religious leaders in Baguio City Thursday evening.
Related: Good Governance at Leadership by Example, Itataguyod ni Ping Lacson sa Senado
When asked for solutions to “pervasive corruption” that deters the nation’s progress and economic stability, Lacson noted the solution is good governance, one need only to look at the example of Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and his proper use of public funds.
“We don’t have to go very far. Right here in Baguio City, Mayor Magalong’s good governance team is already in place and working and we can learn a thing or two as national leaders,” he said.
Joining Lacson at the event were fellow senatorial candidates Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV.
Protecting the weak and helpless had been an achievement of Lacson as a law enforcer and chief of the Philippine National Police, where he and Mayor Benjamin Magalong worked together to institute needed reforms in the PNP.
This continued in Lacson and Magalong’s second career as elected public servants, where they exposed and acted against irregularities and abuses.
“Patuloy pa rin kaming makikipaglaban sa mga abuso lalo na sa paggamit ng taunang pambansang budget (We will continue to fight abuses, especially in the use of the yearly national budget),” Lacson emphasized.
Lacson emphasized that good governance must go hand in hand with leading by example — a key strategy that prompted his men in the PNP to comply with his policies, including a strict “anti-kotong” drive.
“Basic ito, mahirap gawin, pero doable. Ang tawag namin ni Mayor Magalong doon, leadership by example. It’s second to none. Walang substitute sa leadership by example kasi pag ang leader masama ang ginagawa, how can he impart to his subordinates na ito gawin ninyo (This is very basic – maybe difficult, but doable. Mayor Magalong calls this leadership by example. It is second to none, there is no substitute for it. How can a leader tell his subordinates to follow him if he does not practice what he preaches)?” he said.
Lacson is running for senator as an independent candidate, with his credo “Ang tama ay ipaglaban, ang mali ay labanan (What is right must be kept right, what is wrong must be set right).”
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Good Governance at Leadership by Example, Itataguyod ni Ping Lacson sa Senado
Ang good governance at leadership by example ang isusulong ni dating Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson sa Senado kung mananalo siya rito sa 2025.
Iginiit ni Lacson na dapat gamitin ng mga opisyal ang kanilang mandato mula sa taumbayan para protektahan ang mga mahihina laban sa kasakiman at pag-aabuso ng iba, kabilang ang mga nagtaksil sa kanilang sinumpaang tungkulin.
“We have a primary objective in mind: protect the weak and the helpless from the greed and abuses of the others similarly given equal authority and power, but turned their backs on promises made when campaigning to secure the mandate with an entirely different and malevolent motive of abusing their power and authority for self-aggrandizement,” aniya sa pagtitipon kasama ang mga religious leaders sa Baguio City Huwebes ng gabi.
Nang tinanong siya sa pagtitipon kung ano ang pwedeng gawin para lutasin ang problema ng “pervasive corruption” na pumipigil sa pag-unlad ng bansa, idiniin ni Lacson na “good governance” ang solusyon – at ang pinakamagandang halimbawa nito ay ang ginagawa ngayon ni Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, na pinuri ni Lacson sa tamang paggamit ng pondo ng taumbayan.
“We don’t have to go very far. Right here in Baguio City, Mayor Magalong’s good governance team is already in place and working and we can learn a thing or two as national leaders,” ani Lacson.
Kasama ni Lacson sa pagtitipon ang kapwa niyang tumatakbo sa pagkasenador na sina Vicente “Tito” Sotto III at Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV.
Naging tagapagtanggol ng mga mahihina si Lacson noon pang naging law enforcer at Philippine National Police Chief siya. Nang nasa PNP siya, nagtulungan sila ni ngayo’y Mayor Magalong para gumawa ng mga reporma sa PNP.
Ipinagpatuloy ni Lacson at Magalong ang pagtanggol sa mga mahihina sa kanilang ikalawang career bilang halal na tagapaglingkod kung saan ibinuking nila at umaksyon laban sa iregularidad at pang-aabuso.
“Patuloy pa rin kaming makikipaglaban sa mga abuso lalo na sa paggamit ng taunang pambansang budget,” diin ni Lacson.
Diin din ni Lacson, dapat pagsamahin ang good governance sa leadership by example, na aniya’y susi sa pagkumbinsi sa tauhan niya sa PNP na sumunod sa kanyang polisiya, kabilang ang mahigpit na “anti-kotong” drive.
“Basic ito, mahirap gawin, pero doable. Ang tawag namin ni Mayor Magalong doon, leadership by example. It’s second to none. Walang substitute sa leadership by example kasi pag ang leader masama ang ginagawa, how can he impart to his subordinates na ito gawin ninyo?” aniya.
Tumatakbo si Lacson para senador bilang independent candidate, na may kredong “Ang tama ay ipaglaban, ang mali ay labanan.”
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The principles of good governance are honesty, integrity. Justice, fairness, equality, transparency and accountability.