An old photo showing Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson with the Discaya couple is likely meant to discredit his chairing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s probe into anomalous flood control projects.
Lacson, who chairs the Blue Ribbon Committee, said the photo was taken during the 2025 campaign period, for an invitation to a political rally that he declined, and nothing more.
“The fact that it is being circulated only means that it intended to besmirch my reputation and credibility in chairing the Blue Ribbon Committee on the flood control project anomalies,” Lacson said.
“I did not know the Discayas and that was the first and only time outside of the Blue Ribbon committee hearings that I met them. That meeting took around 15 to 20 minutes but not before that group photo was taken,” he added.
In Filipino: Lacson: Larawan Layon Sirain ang Imbestigasyon ng Blue Ribbon sa Anomalya sa Flood Control
Lacson said that during the campaign period, a Davao City-based campaign supporter, Fred Villaroman, brought them to his office in Taguig City. Villaroman’s father, the late P/Brig. Gen. Francisco Villaroman, had served under Lacson in the Philippine National Police and headed the security detail of then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte until 2016.
During the meeting, Lacson was invited to a political rally of the Pinoy Ako party list group, where the Discayas’ son was running as a nominee. Cezarah and Pacifico Discaya II were at the meeting.
But Lacson said he begged off from the invitation out of respect for his friend, now Senate President Vicente Sotto III. Sotto’s nephew Vico was running for reelection as Pasig City Mayor against Mrs. Discaya.
Also, Lacson said there were other party-list groups who were including his name in their sample ballots, “and I thought it was not a smart political decision to join a rally of any party-list group.”
Lacson likewise stressed that they did not discuss any campaign contribution. “I did not receive, nor did the Discayas offer any campaign contribution in whatever form,” he said.
“I hope this clarifies whatever insinuations are being attached to this said photograph,” he added.
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Lacson: Larawan Layon Sirain ang Imbestigasyon ng Blue Ribbon sa Anomalya sa Flood Control
Ginagamit ang isang lumang larawan na nagpapakita kay Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson kasama ang mag-asawang Discaya para siraan ang kanyang pamumuno sa imbestigasyon ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hinggil sa mga anomalya sa mga flood control project.
Ayon kay Lacson, na siya ring namumuno sa Blue Ribbon Committee, kinunan ang larawan noong panahon ng kampanya noong 2025, kaugnay ng imbitasyon sa isang political rally na kanyang tinanggihan — at wala nang iba pa.
“The fact that it is being circulated only means that it intended to besmirch my reputation and credibility in chairing the Blue Ribbon Committee on the flood control project anomalies,” ani Lacson.
“I did not know the Discayas and that was the first and only time outside of the Blue Ribbon committee hearings that I met them. That meeting took around 15 to 20 minutes but not before that group photo was taken,” dagfdag niya.
Aniya, noong campaign period, dinala ng isang campaign supporter mula Davao City na si Fred Villaroman ang mga Discaya sa opisina ni Lacson sa Taguig City. Ang ama ni Villaroman, ang yumaong P/Brig. Gen. Francisco Villaroman, ay nagsilbi sa ilalim ni Lacson sa Philippine National Police at naging hepe ng security detail ni noo’y Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte hanggang 2016.
Sa pulong na iyon, inimbitahan si Lacson na dumalo sa isang political rally ng party-list group na Pinoy Ako, kung saan tumatakbo bilang nominee ang anak ng mga Discaya. Dumalo rin sa pulong sina Cezarah at Pacifico Discaya II.
“Anyway, I begged off – first, out of respect for my friend Senate President Tito Sotto whose nephew, Mayor Vico Sotto was running against Mrs. Discaya for the mayorship of Pasig City; and second, there were other party-list groups who were including my name in their sample ballots and I thought it was not a smart political decision to join a rally of any party-list group,” aniya.
Binigyang-diin din ni Lacson na hindi nila tinalakay ang anumang campaign contribution. “I did not receive, nor did the Discayas offer any campaign contribution in whatever form,” sabi niya.
“I hope this clarifies whatever insinuations are being attached to this said photograph,” dagdag ni Lacson.
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