Eradicating corruption is crucial for the Philippines to rise as an economic power like Japan, and to strengthen its military and defense capabilities including in the West Philippine Sea, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.
Lacson cited Japan’s recent move to seize a Chinese fishing vessel and arrest its skipper off southern Japan – months after Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae hinted Japan may intervene militarily should China try to forcibly take Taiwan.
“Wow Japan! If only the Philippines can eradicate corruption, so we may become an economic power, then we can upgrade our military capability – ergo, we are no longer a pushover country,” Lacson said on X.
In Filipino: Lacson: Pagpuksa sa Katiwalian, Susi sa Pagpapalakas ng Defense Capability, Lalo na sa WPS
Déjà vu. When I took the chairmanship of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, I knew I could lose some friends and create new enemies. I had exactly the same feeling when I delivered my “Living Without Pork” privilege speech in March 2003.
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) February 14, 2026
Japan has had longstanding boundary disputes with China over the Senkaku Islands, similar to the Philippines’ territorial conflict with China in the West Philippine Sea.
In the Philippines, Lacson – a vocal critic of wrongdoing – has repeatedly exposed corruption, including questionable insertions in the national budget.
Yet, Lacson lamented that his anti-corruption efforts cost him friendships and earned him adversaries. He cited his chairmanship of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation of irregularities in flood control projects, where he stressed the probe must be firmly grounded in facts and evidence.
He said he faced similar consequences in 2003 when he delivered his “Living Without Pork” privilege speech seeking the abolition of the pork barrel system.
“Déjà vu. When I took the chairmanship of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, I knew I could lose some friends and create new enemies. I had exactly the same feeling when I delivered my ‘Living Without Pork’ privilege speech in March 2003,” he said.
Déjà vu. When I took the chairmanship of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, I knew I could lose some friends and create new enemies. I had exactly the same feeling when I delivered my “Living Without Pork” privilege speech in March 2003.
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) February 14, 2026
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Lacson: Pagpuksa sa Katiwalian, Susi sa Pagpapalakas ng Defense Capability, Lalo na sa WPS
Pagpuksa sa katiwalian ang susi para makaangat ang Pilipinas bilang economic power tulad ng Japan, at upang mapalakas ang ating kakayahan sa militar at depensa kabilang na sa West Philippine Sea, giit ni Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson ngayong Sabado.
Binanggit ni Lacson ang kamakailang hakbang ng Japan na hulihin ang isang Chinese fishing vessel at arestuhin ang kapitan nito sa katimugang bahagi ng Japan — ilang buwan matapos ipahiwatig ni Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae na maaaring makialam ang Japan sa militar kung pilitin ng China na sakupin ang Taiwan.
“Wow Japan! If only the Philippines can eradicate corruption, so we may become an economic power, then we can upgrade our military capability – ergo, we are no longer a pushover country,” ani Lacson sa X.
Matagal nang may alitan sa teritoryo ang Japan at Tsina kaugnay ng Senkaku Islands, katulad ng umiiral na sigalot sa teritoryo sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at Tsina sa West Philippine Sea.
Sa Pilipinas, si Lacson — isang hayagang kritiko laban sa katiwalian — ay paulit-ulit nang naglantad ng mga kaso ng korupsiyon, kabilang ang mga kuwestiyonableng pagsingit sa pambansang badyet.
Gayunman, ikinalungkot ni Lacson na may kapalit ang kanyang krusada laban sa katiwalian, dahil may mga nawawala siyang kaibigan at bagong nagiging kaaway dulot nito. Binanggit niya ang kanyang pamumuno sa Senate Blue Ribbon Committee sa pag-iimbestiga ng mga iregularidad sa mga proyektong flood control, kung saan iginiit niyang dapat nakabatay lamang sa mga katotohanan at ebidensiya ang imbestigasyon.
Aniya, naranasan na rin niya ang katulad na sitwasyon noong 2003 nang ihayag niya ang kanyang “Living Without Pork” privilege speech na naglalayong ipawalang-bisa ang pork barrel system.
“Déjà vu. When I took the chairmanship of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, I knew I could lose some friends and create new enemies. I had exactly the same feeling when I delivered my ‘Living Without Pork’ privilege speech in March 2003,” aniya.
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