The freedom of critics to “fire at will” against the government should shut down any further claim that the country is under “de facto Martial Law,” Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.
Lacson pointed out that this freedom of speech and expression, as enshrined in Article III, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution, is the hole in arguments that the country is under such a state.
“When critics of government can ‘fire at will,’ not through underground media outlets but openly, to say that the country is under ‘de facto’ martial law is not only full of holes, but the hole itself,” he said on his X account.
In Filipino: Lacson: Kalayaan ng mga Kritiko na Pumitik sa Gobyerno, Pinakamalaking Butas sa Argumentong May ‘De Facto Martial Law’
When critics of government can “fire at will”, not through underground media outlets but openly, to say that the country is under ‘de facto’ martial law is not only full of holes, but the hole itself.
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) January 28, 2026
On Tuesday, Lacson rebuffed allegations by Rep. Leandro Leviste that the Philippines is under a “de facto Martial Law,” adding he does not see the silencing of critics happening so far under the present administration.
Also, he noted that Leviste filed a libel complaint against Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro earlier this month, saying it could have been the other way around had there been a “de facto Martial Law” as he claimed.
“Didn’t Leviste file a libel complaint? Had there been a de facto Martial Law, he could have been the one slapped with a libel complaint,” he said.
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Lacson: Kalayaan ng mga Kritiko na Pumitik sa Gobyerno, Pinakamalaking Butas sa Argumentong May ‘De Facto Martial Law’
Ang kalayaan ng mga kritiko na bumatikos sa pamahalaan ay sapat na upang pabulaanan ang anumang pahayag na ang bansa ay nasa ilalim ng “de facto Martial Law,” ayon kay Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Miyerkules.
Iginiit ni Lacson na ang ganitong kalayaan sa pananalita at pagpapahayag, na malinaw na nakasaad sa Article III, Section 4 ng 1987 Constitution, ang butas sa argumento ng mga nagpupumilit na nasa ilalim tayo ng “de facto Martial Law.”
“When critics of government can ‘fire at will,’ not through underground media outlets but openly, to say that the country is under ‘de facto’ martial law is not only full of holes, but the hole itself,” aniya sa kanyang X account.
Nitong Martes, pinabulaanan ni Lacson ang paratang ni Rep. Leandro Leviste na ang Pilipinas ay nasa ilalim ng “de facto Martial Law,” sabay diin na wala siyang nakikitang pananahimik sa mga kritiko sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang administrasyon.
Dagdag niya, nakahain pa si Leviste ng kasong libelo laban kay Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro, samantalang maaaring kabaligtaran ang nangyari kung tunay na may umiiral na “de facto Martial Law” gaya ng kanyang pahayag.
“Hindi ba siya ang nag-file ng libel complaint? Kung may de facto Martial Law, (baka) siya ang fa-file-an ng complaint,” aniya.
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