Exercise your freedom of expression, but don’t resort to violence. This was former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson’s appeal on Monday to those protesting the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte and the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Lacson said in a television interview that while the police have shown maximum tolerance during recent protest actions, they are duty-bound to act if the protests turn violent and threaten national security.
“Let’s not resort to violence. We can express our sentiments though even this has its boundaries. But let us avoid violence and committing criminal offenses,” he said in Filipino in an interview on NET25.
“The maximum tolerance exercised by our security forces extends to the freedom of expression and assembly. But if there is violence in the course of expressing sentiments, there are limits to maximum tolerance and security forces will act to protect the state,” he added.
Related: Ping Lacson, Umapela vs Dahas sa mga Protesta
Lacson said he is both saddened and worried by the turn of events that triggered at least 61 mass protest actions in several areas in the country and other parts of the world, stemming from the former President’s arrest. He is concerned that the country would suffer from the effects of the high emotion and tension in the long term.
He is likewise saddened over the former President’s arrest, saying he considers him a friend since the 1990s when Lacson headed the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission’s Task Force Habagat.
“I consider the former President a friend since the 1990s, when I was head of Task Force Habagat. I am sad over what happened to him,” Lacson said.
Lacson likewise noted the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte may have added to the perception that the Dutertes are being persecuted, even if the Senate is compelled by the Constitution to act on the impeachment process after the House transmitted the Articles of Impeachment to it.
Meanwhile, Lacson appealed to the public to watch out against the use of fake news by those adding fuel to the fire, even as he noted the police and military have so far shown their professionalism.
He reiterated his intention to study legislation that will criminalize the creation of fake news.
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Ping Lacson, Umapela vs Dahas sa mga Protesta
Maaaring gamitin ang inyong freedom of expression, nguni’t huwag ito idaan sa dahas. Ito ang apela ni dating Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Lunes sa mga nagpoprotesta sa pag-aresto kay dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte at sa impeachment ni Vice President Sara Duterte.
Ani Lacson sa panayam sa TV, bagama’t nagpakita na ng maximum tolerance ang pulis sa mga protesta, tungkulin nila ang tugunan ang anumang karahasan o banta sa seguridad.
“Huwag na sanang daanin sa dahas. Mag-express na lang tayo, hindi naman nakakasakit sa katawan ang pananalita na masasakit. Of course may boundaries din yan. Pero sana huwag magkasakitan sa pisikal, wag umabot sa violence, wag magkakaroon ng paglabag sa batas at pag-commit ng criminal offenses, huwag na sanang umabot sa ganoon,” aniya sa panayam sa NET25.
“Ang nakasalalay na maximum tolerance, sa freedom of expression and assembly. Pero kung may paglabag nagkaroon ng kaguluhan at may batas nang nava-violate in the course of expressing kanilang mga sentimyento, may hangganan ang maximum tolerance. Papangalagaan din ng mga security forces ang mga mapeperwisyo na kababayan din natin o kung di man, ang estado mismo. So balansyado pero ang talagang prevailing na standard procedure is exercise maximum tolerance,” dagdag niya.
Ikinalungkot at ikinabahala ni Lacson ang mga naganap na naging dahilan ng hindi bababa sa 61 mass protest actions sa loob at labas ng bansa, dahil sa pag-aresto sa dating Pangulo. Nababahala din siya na maaaring maaapektuhan ang bansa dahil sa emosyon at tensyon.
Nalungkot din si Lacson sa pag-aresto sa dating Pangulo, na itinuturing niyang kaibigan noong hepe si Lacson ng Presidential Anti-Crime Commission Task Force Habagat.
“Ako mismo personal ko ring kaibigan si dating Pangulong Duterte. Mula pa noon mga 1990s pa, Vice President pa si Erap, ako nasa Task Force Habagat pa, magkaibigan na kami. Nalulungkot ako sa kanyang kinasapian,” ani Lacson.
Dagdag ni Lacson, maaaring nakadagdag sa tensyon ang impeachment ni Vice President Duterte dahil sa pag-aakala ng ilan na pinapahirapan ang mga Duterte – kahit na trabaho ng Senado ang aksyunan ang impeachment process kung matanggap nito ang Articles of Impeachment sa Kamara.
Samantala, muling umapela si Lacson sa publiko na mag-ingat sa paggamit ng fake news ng ilang nais manggatong sa sitwasyon, sa kabila ng pagpapakita ng professionalism ng mga pulis at militar.
Iginiit niya ang kanyang balak na pag-aralan ang paggawa ng batas na paparusahan ang paggawa ng fake news.
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