Tag: AFP

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Lacson Scores Marcoleta’s Ego-Driven Actions at CA Hearing

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Thursday scored the ego-driven actions of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta during Wednesday’s Commission on Appointments (CA) hearing on the confirmation of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officers and foreign service officers.

Lacson called out Marcoleta’s objecting to his manifestation for the prompt confirmation of the AFP and foreign service officers’ promotions – and agreeing to withdraw his objection, if Lacson would also withdraw his manifestation.

“Gusto niya, hindi raw siya mag-object, basta i-withdraw ko rin ang manifestation (ko). Ano siya, hilo? Ang gusto niya, ego yan eh. Para naman pakita niya na in-admit ko mali ang aking manifestation. Pinag-withdraw niya ako. Sabi ko, ano siya hilo? Di ko gagawin yan, ego lang yan. Hindi ako mag-play sa ego niya (He said he would not object so long as I withdraw my manifestation. Is he nuts? What he wants is to feed his ego, to make me admit that my manifestation was wrong. So is he nuts? I refused to accommodate him all for his ego. I’m not playing to his ego),” he said in an interview on DZBB radio.

“Kilala naman natin siya. Basta maipilit ang kanya, yan ang tama. Ayaw niya makinig ng explanation, ayaw niya makinig ng reason (We know him. He wants to insist that he is right, and he does not want to hear any explanation or listen to reason),” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Binoljak si Marcoleta Dahil sa Ego-Driven na Galaw sa Pagdinig ng CA

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Lacson Takes Up Cudgels for AFP Officers Affected by Senate Leadership Row

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Wednesday took up the cudgels for Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officers whose promotions awaiting confirmation by the Commission on Appointments (CA) were delayed by the Senate leadership row that started last May.

Lacson refuted the claim of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta that the affected AFP officers were considered bypassed because they fell short of the one-year ban, or one year before they reached retirement age.

“Just for clarity, I believe and I was told by the Secretary of the Commission on Appointments that the ad interim appointments of these fine gentlemen and lady is a mere resubmission of their previous ad interim appointments given before the May 25, 2026 resumption of the first regular session. And since this is a special session, it is a continuation of the first regular session,” Lacson said at the hearing of the CA defense committee.

“Therefore, hindi pa sila pasok sa one-year ban kasi hindi naman po nila kasalanan na nagkagulo-gulo kami sa Senado at hindi na-take up ang kanilang confirmation (Therefore, they are not covered by the one-year ban because it is not their fault that there was a leadership row in the Senate that prevented their confirmation from being taken up earlier),” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Ipinagtanggol ang mga Opisyal ng AFP na Naapektuhan ng Alitan sa Pamunuan ng Senado

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Lacson Rejects Claims of ‘Martial Law’ in Senate Security Inspection

What “Martial Law?”

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson thus rejected on Tuesday the objections and claims of “undeclared martial law” by some minority senators to the security survey and inspection (SSI) of the Senate premises by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Bureau of Fire Protection, assisted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Lacson stressed that the inspection stemmed from intelligence reports indicating a security threat to the Senate, adding that no one was exempted, not even the offices of the majority bloc members.

“Martial law? All the offices of individual senators, even including that of Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, as well as those occupied by the secretariat and all other offices, were subjected to safety and security inspections to make sure that we and the Senate employees as well as the media people covering the Senate will be safe and secure from a repeat of the May 13 shooting incident and mayhem that transpired under the watch of disgraced ex-Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano,” he said.

“Except for those of us who may be apprehensive that they may have kept or stored contraband items like firearms, explosives and drugs in their offices, those with clean consciences should all welcome instead of criticize the SSI that was conducted by the PNP and the Bureau of Fire Protection, assisted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Itinanggi ang Bintang na ‘Martial Law’ sa Security Inspection sa Senado

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Lacson: Those Behind ‘Destabilization’ Using 18 Maleta Boys Cannot Undermine Professionalism in AFP, PNP

Whoever may be behind a possible destabilization attempt involving the 18 “Maleta Boys” cannot undermine the professionalism in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Sunday.

Lacson said the uniformed services have effectively disowned and distanced themselves from the 18 ex-soldiers who claimed to have delivered cash in suitcases to certain personalities linked to the flood control scandal.

“I don’t think the AFP and uniformed services have any sympathy for the 18 Maleta Boys. They’ve been disowned by the Philippine Marines and by the AFP. So if those behind them assume that their antics would trigger something bigger and cause destabilization, I think they are wrong,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio.

“Those behind the destabilization attempts should know better than to use the 18 ex-Marines as a rallying point for our Armed Forces. They should know the members of the AFP and PNP better than how they assume they will act. Whoever is behind the destabilization moves should know them better than that,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Mga Nasa Likod ng ‘Destabilization’ Gamit ang 18 ‘Maleta Boys,’ Hindi Kayang Pahinain ang Propesyonalismo ng AFP at PNP

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Lacson to Armed Services: Be Vigilant, Discerning vs Potential Destabilizers’ Tactics

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Tuesday appealed to members of the armed services to remain vigilant and discerning against unscrupulous groups that may exploit their concerns and sentiments to destabilize the government by posing as their allies.

Lacson said he is not discounting the possibility that 18 ex-soldiers who were brought into the Senate on Monday could be used as part of a broader effort to sow chaos and trigger destabilization.

“This is a call to our Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police to be discerning. Unscrupulous, power-hungry groups and destabilizers are out to take advantage of the confusion or the situation, and may seek to mislead some of our uniformed personnel,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.

“I am not saying our uniformed services are unprofessional. But in the middle of confusion, they may mistake unscrupulous groups for their allies,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Nanawagan sa Sandatahang Lakas: Maging Mapagmatyag at Mapanuri vs Taktika ng mga Posibleng Destabilizer

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