Lacson: Hero or Villain?
BY RONALYN OLEA
Bulatlat.com
No doubt, opposition Senator Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson
is among the most controversial politicians in the country
today.
Identified with ousted President Joseph Estrada, the former
chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Presidential
Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) planned two destabilization
plots against the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. This
was revealed by Reynaldo Berroya, PNP-Central Luzon chief
and Lacson’s arch enemy, sometime in October last
year.
In one of his privilege speeches before the Senate, Lacson described the Macapagal-Arroyo
administration as ‘powerfully corrupt’ and called First Gentleman
Jose Miguel Arroyo as the head of the Department of the Underground. Lacson claimed
that Mike Arroyo is responsible for assigning cronies to positions of power and
making money out of them.
The senator was among the first to speak about the involvement of Mike Arroyo
in the alleged US$14 million IMPSA bribery scandal and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes
Office (PCSO) scam.
Despite his fearless accusations against the present administration, Lacson himself
has been linked to many scandals.
In August last year, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed cases of
perjury and non-disclosure of assets against Lacson. This came after the Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported that the Lacsons have at least three accounts
in various banks in the United States (U.S.), the biggest of which allegedly
had a US$ 200,000 (P10 million) deposit. The U.S. Treasury confirmed the allegations.
When asked whether the accusations were true, Lacson said his accounts were no
longer active.
Meanwhile, Col. Victor Corpuz, chief of the Intelligence Services of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), bared that Lacson laundered US$ 211.4 million
in eight bank accounts in Hongkong, Canada and the U.S.
NBI chief Reynaldo Wycoco also exposed to the media Lacson’s P150-million
worth of mansions in Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City and BF Homes in Parañaque.
Both properties were not listed in the senator’s yearly statement of assets
and liabilities.
Corpuz claimed that Lacson’s wealth came from alleged links with big-time
drug leaders and kidnappers. He supported this claim with various witnesses who
testified during the Senate probe on Lacson’s money-laundering cases.
Mary Ong, probably the most celebrated witness, said that Lacson indeed used
his position as PNP chief to manipulate his subordinates into becoming runners
for the Hong kong Triad, a big drug-trafficking syndicate.
At the height of the impeachment trial, Lacson allegedly deposited US$1 million
in his account.
Lacson was also implicated in the Kuratong Baleleng rubout in 1995. Although
the Court of Appeals has issued a permanent injunction order on the case, civil
society groups have demanded the reopening of the case before the Supreme Court.
In an interview with Lacson in 2001, he was asked if he intends to run for president
in 2004. He replied: “It has never crossed my mind. If I could only turn
back the hands of time, I would not have run for the Senate.”
But as early as November last year, the senator announced that he would seek
the presidency, the first politician to do so. Recently, he toned down a bit,
coating his intentions with coy pronouncements that the ultimate decision rests
with his party, the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP).
On the other hand, it would be interesting to turn forward the hands of time
and see how history would treat Lacson – a man with criminal links or a
top-notched police chief and crime buster.
But for an Ateneo student interviewed by Bulatlat.com, Lacson as president is
not an option: “I would go to the hills if Lacson or FPJ (Fernando Poe
Jr.) becomes our president,” he said.
Bulatlat.com
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