Tag: President Rodrigo Duterte

Posted on

On the Recently Concluded 2025 Midterm Elections

HALALAN 2025: The people have spoken. Big surprises on big wins and big upsets. From a non-expert with long experience in campaigns and elections, these are some of the game changers:

(a) the millennials and Gen Z who went out and voted;
(b) social media;
(c) former President Rodrigo Duterte;
(d) The much-hyped administration machinery especially during the midterm elections failed.

All that being said, the biggest beneficiaries of “DuterTen” and “Alyansa Minus Two” are Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan. To their credit, they are both qualified, and they campaigned hard, to the last day of the 90-day campaign period. I certainly look forward to working with them again in the Senate in case the current trend of the election results holds.

There are certainly lots to learn from the recently concluded midterm elections. One thing is for certain: when all is said and done, it’s the people who get to decide. This is the essence of democracy.

*****

Posted on

Ping Lacson Makes Appeal vs Violent Protests

Exercise your freedom of expression, but don’t resort to violence. This was former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson’s appeal on Monday to those protesting the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte and the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Lacson said in a television interview that while the police have shown maximum tolerance during recent protest actions, they are duty-bound to act if the protests turn violent and threaten national security.

“Let’s not resort to violence. We can express our sentiments though even this has its boundaries. But let us avoid violence and committing criminal offenses,” he said in Filipino in an interview on NET25.

“The maximum tolerance exercised by our security forces extends to the freedom of expression and assembly. But if there is violence in the course of expressing sentiments, there are limits to maximum tolerance and security forces will act to protect the state,” he added.

Related: Ping Lacson, Umapela vs Dahas sa mga Protesta

Continue reading “Ping Lacson Makes Appeal vs Violent Protests”

Posted on

Ping Lacson to PNP, AFP: Remain Professional Amid ‘Calls’ for Partisan Action

Remain professional and loyal to the country. This was former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson’s message to the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines, amid reported calls for partisan activity following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Lacson also said Saturday that members of the PNP and AFP should double-check such calls especially those made through social media, because of the proliferation of fake news.

“They should remain professional and loyal to their duty. That is the best message,” he said in Filipino in an interview on DZRH radio.

“In this day and age of information technology, fake news spreads fast. And we know that is in their training to conduct fact-checking first. If there are reports of partisan activity, they should not get involved,” he added.

Related: Ping Lacson sa PNP, AFP: Manatiling Propesyonal sa Gitna ng ‘Panawagan’ para sa Partisan Action

Continue reading “Ping Lacson to PNP, AFP: Remain Professional Amid ‘Calls’ for Partisan Action”

Posted on

On Former President Rodrigo Duterte

More than being a former president of our country, former President Rodrigo R. Duterte is a Filipino who will face trial before an international court.

Our government must not lose sight of its obligation, as a matter of policy, to extend support to ALL Filipinos, as we consistently do, even to those already convicted and facing executions beyond our jurisdiction.

*****

Posted on

Ping Lacson Reiterates Appeal to De-Escalate Political Tension

Former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Tuesday reiterated his appeal to the public to do their part to de-escalate instead of escalating the current political tension.

Lacson said that with the 2025 elections threatening to be divisive, the Filipino people must not allow the clashes among the parties concerned to add to the divisiveness.

“My appeal is for us to help de-escalate the situation instead of escalating it because nothing good will come out of the situation especially for ordinary Filipinos like us,” he said in Filipino at a press conference of the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate in Pasay City.

Related: Ping Lacson, Umapela Muli para Mabawasan ang Political Tension

Continue reading “Ping Lacson Reiterates Appeal to De-Escalate Political Tension”