On the eve of the start of the potentially divisive impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, the nation received a much-needed dose of inspiration and unity from tennis sensation Alex Eala, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Sunday.
Lacson thanked Eala for lifting the Filipino spirit after she made history as the first Filipino player to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam singles tournament, highlighted by her dethroning of Iga Swiatek.
“She is the detoxifier that our country’s highly toxic atmosphere needs and an influential unifier of a deeply divided nation. Thank you Alex Eala for lifting the Filipino spirit. God bless you and the Philippines,” Lacson said on X.
In Filipino: Lacson: Alex Eala, ‘Detoxifier’ at Tagapagbuklod na Kailangan ng Bansa
She is the detoxifier that our country’s highly toxic atmosphere needs and an influential unifier of a deeply divided nation. Thank you Alex Eala for lifting the Filipino spirit. God bless you and the Philippines.
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) July 5, 2026
Eala advanced after ending Swiatek’s title defense Saturday amid cheers from Filipino supporters. She will next face 13th-seeded Jasmine Paolini for a place in the Wimbledon quarterfinals.
Lacson earlier lauded Eala for her breakthrough Wimbledon win in the opening round, and for her rally that helped her beat Maya Joint, saying her indomitable fighting spirit made every Filipino proud.
Watching Alex Eala’s easy win in her first round of the prestigious Wimbledon Championships is a welcome departure from the unpleasant atmosphere in EDSA. Congratulations and good luck!
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) July 1, 2026
Meanwhile, Lacson said the Vice President’s impeachment trial presents an opportunity for senators to work together as one institution despite their differences.
“We can do our work without having to resort to confrontations or threats. There are ways to get our points across and if we disagree, we settle it through debates and not through insults and personal attacks,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio Saturday.
He said this was also the appeal made by the majority bloc to members of the minority bloc during the all-senators’ caucus last Friday.
During the caucus, Lacson said the majority invited the minority bloc anew to join them in working as one institution. Senators Loren Legarda and Robinhood Padilla were the minority senators who attended the caucus.
“Our call was, why don’t we work as one institution? We can debate and have heated exchanges but at the end of the day, our bottom line is the good of the Senate as an institution,” he said.
Lacson also said the Senate owes it to Filipino taxpayers to ensure that its daily operating expenses, estimated at P25 million a day, translate into quality public service instead of internal conflict.
“The bottom line we must think of is, what must the Senate do to justify its P25-million daily operating expenses? We must return the investment of taxpayers in the form of service, not fighting,” Lacson stressed.
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Lacson: Alex Eala, ‘Detoxifier’ at Tagapagbuklod na Kailangan ng Bansa
Sa bisperas ng pagsisimula ng mapaghating impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, nakatikim ang bansa ng kinakailangang inspirasyon at pagkakaisa dahil sa tennis sensation na si Alex Eala, ayon kay Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Linggo.
Pinasalamatan ni Lacson si Eala sa pagpapataas ng diwang Pilipino matapos itong gumawa ng kasaysayan bilang unang Pilipinong manlalaro na umabot sa ikaapat na round ng isang Grand Slam singles tournament, tampok ang kanyang pagwawakas sa title defense ni Iga Swiatek.
“She is the detoxifier that our country’s highly toxic atmosphere needs and an influential unifier of a deeply divided nation. Thank you Alex Eala for lifting the Filipino spirit. God bless you and the Philippines,” ani Lacson sa X.
Umabante si Eala matapos wakasan ang title defense ni Swiatek noong Sabado sa gitna ng masigabong suporta mula sa mga kababayang nanood ng laban. Susunod niyang makakaharap ang ika-13 seed na si Jasmine Paolini para sa puwesto sa quarterfinals ng Wimbledon.
Nauna nang pinuri ni Lacson si Eala para sa kanyang breakthrough na panalo sa opening round ng Wimbledon, gayundin sa kanyang matinding pagbangon upang talunin si Maya Joint, at sinabing ang kanyang hindi matatawarang fighting spirit ay nagbibigay ng pagmamalaki sa bawat Pilipino.
Samantala, sinabi ni Lacson na ang impeachment trial ng Bise Presidente ay isang pagkakataon para magtulungan ang mga senador bilang isang institusyon sa kabila ng kanilang pagkakaiba.
“Pwede namang gawin yan na walang bangayan, walang ambahan. Maraming pamamaraan ng pag-argue, di ba sabi nga natin kung mag-disagree tayo at magbakbakan, bakbakan ng debate, hindi patutsadahan o insultuhan o personalan,” aniya sa panayam sa DZMM radio.
Aniya, ito rin ang panawagan ng majority bloc sa mga kasapi ng minority bloc sa ginanap na caucus ng lahat ng senador noong nakaraang Biyernes.
Sa naturang caucus, sinabi ni Lacson na muling inimbitahan ng majority bloc ang minority bloc na makiisa sa pagtatrabaho bilang isang institusyon. Sina Sen. Loren Legarda at Sen. Robinhood Padilla ang mga miyembro ng minority bloc na dumalo sa caucus.
“Panawagan namin, bakit hindi na tayo magtrabaho as 1 institution? Pwede tayong magdebate, magkainitan, pero at the end of the day ang Senado as institution ang kapakanan ng ating tingnan, yan ang bottom line,” aniya.
Sinabi rin ni Lacson na may pananagutan ang Senado sa taumbayan na tiyaking ang tinatayang P25 milyong ginagastos nito kada araw sa operasyon ay naisasalin sa de-kalidad na serbisyo publiko sa halip na sa alitan sa loob ng institusyon.
“Ang pinaka-bottom line na dapat naming iniisip, anong magagawa ng Senado para ma-compensate ang P25M a day na total na ginagastos sa staff, lahat. Ibalik natin sa pamamagitan ng serbisyo di sa pamamagitan ng away,” diin ni Lacson.
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