Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Tuesday rebuffed allegations that there is a “de facto Martial Law” in the Philippines as claimed by Rep. Leandro Leviste.
In an interview, Lacson said he does not see acts like the silencing of critics happening so far under the current administration.
“Of course not. Malayo. I do not agree,” Lacson said when asked about such claims, noting that if there were indeed a “de facto Martial Law,” Leviste would have been slapped with a libel complaint for criticizing supposed wrongdoings in the government.
“I often agree with him, considering his courage and principles. But this time, I don’t agree,” he added.
In Filipino: Lacson, Pinabulaanan ang Pahayag na May ‘De Facto Martial Law’ sa Pilipinas
Lacson also said anybody should be open to investigation by authorities especially if they have nothing to hide. He cited his own experience of facing baseless criminal accusations during the Arroyo administration.
Yet, he said he managed to survive such acts during those nine long years.
“If their charges against you have no basis, no matter how they investigate you, they’ll come up empty-handed. I’ve been there, done that. For nine long years I was subjected to such baseless accusations. Yet I’m still here, still standing,” he said.
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Lacson, Pinabulaanan ang Pahayag na May ‘De Facto Martial Law’ sa Pilipinas
Pinabulaanan ni Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Martes ang pahayag ni Rep. Leandro Leviste na may umiiral na “de facto Martial Law” sa Pilipinas.
Sa isang panayam, sinabi ni Lacson na wala siyang nakikitang mga hakbang tulad ng pananahimik sa mga kritiko sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang administrasyon.
“Of course not. Malayo. I do not agree,” ani Lacson nang tanungin tungkol sa naturang pahayag. Dagdag niya, kung totoong may umiiral na “de facto Martial Law,” maaaring nakasuhan na si Leviste ng libelo dahil sa kanyang mga batikos sa umano’y mga maling gawain sa pamahalaan.
“Malimit akong nag-a-agree sa kanya, sa kanyang courage and principles, pero this time, I do not agree,” dagdag niya.
Sinabi rin ni Lacson na dapat maging bukas ang sinuman sa imbestigasyon ng mga awtoridad lalo na kung wala silang itinatago. Ibinahagi niya ang sarili niyang karanasan na maharap sa mga walang basehang paratang na kriminal noong panahon ng administrasyong Arroyo.
Gayunman, aniya, nalampasan niya ang mga ito sa loob ng siyam na mahabang taon.
“Kung walang basis, no matter how they investigate you walang mararating. Been there, done that. For nine long years yan ang sinapit ko noon. Pero andito pa rin ako nakatayo pa rin ako,” aniya.
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