Author: Office of Sen. Ping Lacson

Public servant for more than 40 years. Law enforcer. Lawmaker.
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Where We Are

Speech before the Rotary Club of Manila

I feel honored today. It is good to be with you again. After all, it is not every week that one is given the chance to speak before the oldest of the country’s Rotary Clubs – certainly not the kind that Spokesman Toting Bunye has insulted.  I mean that to be the truth – not the truth that Malacanan Palace speaks and expresses each time we, Filipinos seek an explanation on Garcillano, on impeachment, on Venable and what have you.I feel honored today. It is good to be with you again. After all, it is not every week that one is given the chance to speak before the oldest of the country’s Rotary Clubs – certainly not the kind that Spokesman Toting Bunye has insulted.  I mean that to be the truth – not the truth that Malacanan Palace speaks and expresses each time we, Filipinos seek an explanation on Garcillano, on impeachment, on Venable and what have you.

The invitation of President Cesar made through fellow Rtn. Art to be your guest speaker today brings back good memories. This is the group to whom I delivered my first major address when I became Chief of the Philippine National Police in November 1999. I remember that was upon the invitation of a good friend and mentor and now a Senator and a distinguished colleague, the Hon. Alfredo S. Lim.

It was easy then to deliver my speech. There was a strong clamor for reforms in our country’s police force. In that address before you, I defined my response and vision. I remember talking about the ICU’s among the police – the inept, corrupt and undisciplined. At that time, I was already thinking of my antidote against the ICU’s. It was AID – aptitude, integrity, discipline.  Continue reading “Where We Are”

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Past, Imperfect/Future, Tense: The Road Ahead For The Philippines

Speech before Filipino-Indian Chamber of Commerce

I am very honored tonight to address your chamber. But the real honor belongs to the new leaders of the chamber. Tonight is their night. Tonight begins the first night of the rest of their lives. To them I convey my best wishes!

The invitation of President Ram Sitaldas was very forthright. In fact, he asked me to cover the subject he bluntly described as Past Imperfect, Future Tense. He made no reference to the present. Thus, I assume that the present is both imperfect and tense…

President Sitaldas is right. The imperfect past is a reality made permanent by history. Our most reasonable response can only be this: there is no saint without a past. Time to leave our past to God’s mercy.  Continue reading “Past, Imperfect/Future, Tense: The Road Ahead For The Philippines”

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The True State of the Nation

At the National Congress of the BE NOT AFRAID Movement, The Manila Hotel

Prophetic words from GMA. Dec. 30, 2002. She knew it then. She knows it today.

(Audio) GMA: “My political efforts can only be result in never-ending divisiveness.”

GMA knows she brings disorder. GMA knows she brings despair. GMA knows she brings divisiveness. Yet, despite that knowledge, she continues to heap upon us the curse of her unwanted, unacceptable and unearned governance.

Continue reading “The True State of the Nation”

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Be Not Afraid!

Speech delivered at The Manila Hotel

“It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything.” She has learned her lesson well. She has mastered the art and science of assuming the presidency without winning the elections. She does her role model proud. I hope she does not forget that her role model ended up being hanged by those he oppressed.

Fascists believe that through the use of state terror, propaganda and the intimidation of political rivals, you can disassemble the existing democratic government system.

We have seen Mrs. Arroyo toy around with this belief since her voice on a taped phone conversation became the country’s outrage, and her nightmare.  Continue reading “Be Not Afraid!”

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Speech at Colegio de Dagupan

Nine days ago, a great world leader died, His Holiness Pope John Paul II. His last word in his deathbed was only one and only one: Amen. It was not goodbye, it was not farewell. It was pure and simple Amen.

Among men and women of wisdom then and now, the word Amen means, “It is done.” In Latin, factum est or consumatum est. We heard those two words only during the Holy Week in the reenactment of the Cross.

In charismatic circles, the word Amen is household. We wish for something and we say amen. We pray over somebody and we say amen. It is a word of faith that something has been done or being done or will be done.  Continue reading “Speech at Colegio de Dagupan”