Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Saturday rejected the claims of “selective justice” and “intimidation” made by Senators Alan Peter and Pilar Juliana Cayetano, challenging them to confront instead the issues raised against them.
Lacson said that when false charges were thrown at him during the Arroyo administration, he faced the accusations head-on by defending himself in the proper forums.
In Filipino: Lacson, Pinabulaanan ang mga Pahayag ng mga Cayetano sa ‘Selective Justice’ at ‘Intimidation’: Pag Nambato Ka, Humanda Ka Ring Ipagtanggol ang Sarili Mo
“It is not selective justice; just prioritizing. Ang daldal mo kasi with ‘ad hominems’. Instead of confronting the issues, gusto mo magdamay ng iba. He conveniently forgets my two privilege speeches and Blue Ribbon Committee hearings on the flood control project mess that produced massive evidence on the anomalies,” he said in a post on X.
The X post was in response to Cayetano’s recent insinuation of selective justice, in which he “challenged” Lacson to investigate other areas instead of focusing on Taguig City, his bailiwick.
Since last year, Lacson has exposed through two privilege speeches the corruption involving anomalous flood control projects in areas including Bulacan and Mindoro Oriental.
He also chaired Blue Ribbon Committee hearings on the flood control projects, during which several pieces of evidence were uncovered.
In an interview on DZMM radio, Lacson also addressed the claim of Sen. Pia Cayetano that she felt “threatened” by a colleague who would not stop pursuing issues against them.
“I am the one she was alluding to. And I would not stop because throughout my public service career in law enforcement and legislation, I have a low tolerance for corruption and my record can speak for itself,” Lacson said in English and Filipino during the interview.
“Even if Pia Cayetano does not name me, I know she was referring to me. And I will not deny it – in fact, I am proud of it,” he added.
Meanwhile, Lacson said the Cayetanos should learn to face the issues head-on instead of resorting to ad hominems or trying to drag other people into the mess.
“If you throw stones, be prepared to defend yourselves if stones are thrown back. What is happening is ad hominem. I have yet to hear an explanation from Taguig. Did they deny there was illegal reclamation or that the slope protection projects were not built? None. They resorted to ad hominems and attacked the messenger. They should just answer the issues,” he said.
He noted that during his early days as senator, he faced several false accusations from the Arroyo administration, including claims of multimilion-dollar accounts abroad.
Lacson said he debunked all the allegations against him, with his accusers eventually apologizing and acknowledging they were wrong.
“To me, it’s simple. If you did not do anything wrong, how will you be intimidated or pressured? I faced a lot of pressure during the nine years of the Arroyo administration. But did I lament that I was being intimidated? I defended myself,” he said.
“I defended myself and that should be the way to go – not to blame others,” he added.
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Lacson, Pinabulaanan ang mga Pahayag ng mga Cayetano sa ‘Selective Justice’ at ‘Intimidation’: Pag Nambato Ka, Humanda Ka Ring Ipagtanggol ang Sarili Mo
Itinanggi ni Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Sabado ang mga pahayag nina Sen. Alan Peter at Pilar Juliana Cayetano hinggil sa “selective justice” at “intimidation,” at hinamon silang harapin sa halip ang mga isyung ibinabato laban sa kanila.
Diniin ni Lacson na nang pagbintangan siya ng mga maling paratang noong administrasyong Arroyo, hinarap niya ang mga akusasyon at ipinagtanggol ang sarili sa tamang mga forum.
“It is not selective justice; just prioritizing. Ang daldal mo kasi with ‘ad hominems’. Instead of confronting the issues, gusto mo magdamay ng iba. He conveniently forgets my two privilege speeches and Blue Ribbon Committee hearings on the flood control project mess that produced massive evidence on the anomalies,” aniya sa isang post sa X.
Bunsod ang post ni Lacson sa X ng mga pahiwatig kamakailan ni Cayetano hinggil sa “selective justice,” kung saan “hinamon” nito si Lacson na imbestigahan ang iba pang lugar sa halip na tutukan ang Taguig City, ang kanyang balwarte.
Mula noong nakaraang taon, inilantad na ni Lacson sa pamamagitan ng dalawang privilege speech ang katiwalian na may kaugnayan sa mga maanomalyang flood control project sa mga lugar kabilang ang Bulacan at Oriental Mindoro.
Pinangunahan din niya ang mga pagdinig ng Blue Ribbon Committee hinggil sa mga flood control project, kung saan ilang ebidensya ang natuklasan.
Sa isang panayam sa DZMM radio, tinugunan din ni Lacson ang pahayag ni Sen. Pia Cayetano na “threatened” daw siya dahil sa isang kasamahang hindi tumitigil sa pag-usisa sa mga isyung laban sa kanila.
“Ako naman talaga yan. Hindi ko tatantanan kasi mula law enforcement hanggang senador, ako talagang mababa tolerance ko pagdating sa corruption. Record ko can speak for itself,” ani Lacson.
“Totoo yan maski di banggit ang pangalan ko alam ko ako yan. Pero di ko tatanggi ko at di ikakahiya yan. Ipagmamalaki ko pa nga yan,” dagdag niya.
Samantala, sinabi ni Lacson na dapat matutong harapin ng mga Cayetano nang diretso ang mga isyu sa halip na gumamit ng ad hominems o magtangkang magdamay ng ibang tao sa kontrobersiya.
“Pag nambato ka mag-ready ka rin kung ipagtanggol mo sarili mo kung babatuhin ka. Ang nangyayari kasi ad hominem eh. Wala pa akong narinig na paliwanag sa Taguig. Tinanggihan ba nila na may illegal reclamation, slope protection na di nagagawa? Wala, puro ad hominem ginagawa. Ang ina-attack ang messenger. Sagutin na lang nila,” aniya.
Binanggit niya na noong mga unang taon niya bilang senador, hinarap niya ang ilang maling paratang mula sa administrasyong Arroyo, kabilang ang mga alegasyon na mayroon siyang multimilyong dolyar na mga account sa ibang bansa.
Ayon kay Lacson, pinabulaanan niya ang lahat ng alegasyon laban sa kanya, at kalaunan ay humingi ng paumanhin ang mga nag-akusa sa kanya at kinilala na nagkamali sila.
“Sa akin simple lang. Kung wala kang kasalanan paano ka maintindimate pano ka mapepressure? Ako katakot-takot ang pressure na inabot ko panahon ni dating Pangulong Arroyo, siyam na taon yan. Pero nagsabi ba akong iniintimidate ako? Pinagtanggol ko ang sarili ko,” aniya.
“Pinagtatanggol ko sarili ko, ganun dapat, hindi ang pagbibintangan mo,” dagdag niya.
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