Ping Lacson on forgiving political foes, how to have abs, and his near-death experience
Panfilo “Ping” Lacson is an award-winning former Director General of the Philippine National Police (PNP), now senator and presidential candidate known for his anti-crime and anti-corruption exploits, imposing a 34-inch waistline limit for the police, and refusing to use his senator’s pork barrel of P200 million a year. He authored many laws like the National ID Law, Anti-Red Tape Act, the Free Irrigation Law, etc. He gave this writer an exclusive one-hour interview. Here are excerpts:
PHILIPPINE STAR: What are the secrets of your youthfulness? How come you’re almost the same age as President Duterte but you look younger?
SENATOR PANFILO LACSON: (Laughs) Siguro hindi ko dinaramdam ‘yung mga pinagdaanan ko. Hindi lingid sa kaalaman mo na from 2001 since I left the PNP as chief hanggang 2010, hanggang umalis na si Pangulong Arroyo. Wala na sa akin ‘yon, but those whole nine years, talagang wala, miserable ang buhay ko (Maybe it’s because I didn’t take to heart too much about what I’ve been through. As you know, from 2001 since I left the PNP as chief until 2010, until President Arroyo left power. It’s nothing to me now, but those whole nine years, really nothing, my life was miserable.)
You know, there’s really no substitute to having a clear conscience, because they hurled so many accusations against me. If you recall, they accused me of illegal drugs, this Ador Mawanay, then Victor Corpus. But it’s very gratifying, the former Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) military intelligence chief Victor Corpus, he came to my office two years ago accompanied by his “mistah” (slang for schoolmate at the Philippine Military Academy or PMA) to ask for an apology.
He explained that he was taken for a ride by Ador Mawanay. I found his apology to be very sincere. I told him: “Sir” — since he’s my upperclassman at PMA — “General Corpus, I accept your apology. No matter what transpired before, we will remain as cavaliers, as fellow PMA graduates.” After that, he even went beyond issuing a public apology during a television interview.
I’ve read the well-written, 234-page manuscript of your political foe, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s memoirs entitled Deus Ex Machina and she wrote that Ador Mawanay’s claims to the public and to military intelligence chief Victor Corpus against you “could not be substantiated.” She added: “I was told that years later, Corpus apologized for the incident.”
How nice of her to write that. I just hope that the published book wouldn’t edit that portion out.
How do you treat your political foes?
I’m very forgiving, I let bygones be bygones. But I believe in what John F. Kennedy once said: “Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.” I’d add, do not forget lessons.
The late John Gokongwei, Jr. told me you were a young police officer who rescued his daughter Robina from kidnappers, but you refused his offer of reward money, which wasn’t a bribe; later, your bosses got this money as a donation for (purchasing) 10 police cars. When you were still being hunted by the Arroyo government, Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) president Sergio Ortiz Luis, Jr. then told me you were a good guy who helped rescue his brother-in-law from kidnappers, that you refused any reward. PDP-Laban elder and President Duterte’s classmate Attorney Rogelio “Vic-Vic” Garcia also recounted to me that, years ago, he was a lawyer for a kidnap victim whom you rescued; they offered a reward of P1 million, but you also refused. Why?
I consistently decline reward money, because it is our duty to fight crimes and rescue victims. I worry that if we police start accepting reward money, what will happen to crime victims who do not have reward money to offer?
My late mother taught us integrity and honesty, not to get money that is not ours. I can’t forget when we were kids, my elder brother Ely once came home from school and excitedly told our mother that he had found a “kusing” (a coin worth half centavo). She told him: “Bukas na bukas din, pag pasok mo sa iskuwela, hanapin mong pilit ang may-ari ng perang iyan at isauli mo. Siguradong hindi makakatulog ngayong gabi kung sino man ang nakawala niyan (Tomorrow, when you go to school, you must earnestly find the owner of that coin and return it. I’m sure that person couldn’t sleep for having lost that coin).”
Who were your parents?
Our parents — jeepney driver Buenaventura Lacson and market vendor Maxima “Imang” Morena Lacson of Imus, Cavite — taught us, their eight children, the values of integrity, discipline and love of God. They brought us to church every Sunday, that is why up to now I pray every morning and evening. We had a small altar at home, where our mother knelt to pray. She once said: “Sukdulang hindi kami kumain ng tatlong beses sa isang araw, makatapos lamang kayo ng pag-aaral, masaya kaming papanaw (Even if we couldn’t eat three meals a day, as long as all of you can finish schooling, we’d die happy).”
Years ago at a dinner, late veteran journalist Letty Jimenez Magsanoc was seated beside me and said she admired you for refusing to accept money from illegal jueteng gambling. This even led to a rift with your then boss, President Joseph Estrada. Is this true?
Yes, I refused money from illegal jueteng, because that’s a form of bribery. In fact, the first case of temptation was in 1992 when I was appointed PNP provincial director in Laguna. Even when I had not yet reported to the office, I was already offered P1.2 million every month, just to “look the other way.” But how could I instill integrity and anti-kotong reforms among my men, if they know that their chief was accepting bribes? How could I preach and demand discipline? I believe in leadership by example, and that is what I, and Senate President Tito Sotto, plan to do for the whole country with anti-corruption reforms and discipline if we’re elected to lead.
Is it true that only you and the late Senator Joker Arroyo refused to use your pork barrel funds? That after 12 years, you returned to the government treasury P2.4 billion?
Although some legislators use their pork barrel well, I never used my pork barrel funds because I do not want the perception that I earned commissions. Yes, once Senator Joker Arroyo approached me saying he wanted to also refuse his pork barrel allocation to get his “15 minutes of fame.” I told him it’s not 15 minutes, it is only 15 seconds, because that is what it takes to stand in the Senate and to declare your refusal to accept pork barrel funds.
Who are the leaders here or abroad whom you admire?
The late statesman Lee Kuan Yew, because he exemplified discipline, integrity and consistency. I admire his political will, not the dictatorship aspects. He led the transformation of Singapore from a Third World nation into a developed country. If we can eliminate widespread corruption, I believe 50 percent of our problems in the Philippines can be solved.
Many say you’re well-qualified to be president, but to go up in surveys maybe you should tell more jokes? Do you sing?
It is a big challenge. No, I do not sing or dance in campaigns, I do not indulge in politics of entertainment. I and Senate President Tito Sotto will campaign based on our track records, our platforms, our reform advocacies. True, election campaigns are about perception, how we can present ourselves. It’s a perception game, but I do not believe our Filipino voters are dreamless or hopeless. I hope our voters will think of the future generation, to dream big for the country.
How will you continue President Duterte’s anti-illegal drugs war?
The government has focused on law enforcement in the anti-drugs war, but not enough efforts to promote illegal drugs prevention and rehabilitation, which I and Tito advocate.
You were once a celebrity endorser for Facial Care Center. What do you usually do to your face? Are you vain?
That billboard ad I agreed to do as an X-deal, because the Siy family members are my friends, so I didn’t charge for that. I only wash my face with soap and water, no special ointment…
Yes, I am vain. You might have noticed that during Senate sessions, I dress neatly. I also sit very upright, para hindi magusot ang suot ko (to avoid crumpling or creases on my clothes). That is also one way to keep fit, not to have a big stomach, and to gain abs — sit upright, especially after meals.
How do you keep yourself fit?
I regularly exercise, two to three times a week, 30 to 40 minutes on the treadmill. I do a combination of brisk walking, jogging and inclined walking. Due to my busy schedule, I don’t get to sleep eight hours, but I take catnaps.
How does a workaholic senator relax? Do you have hobbies, or any pets?
In this pandemic, I relax by watching Netflix and learn a lot of lessons. If I have time on weekends, I go to my small farm in Silang, Cavite, to plant vegetables, calamansi and raise tilapia fish in the fishpond there. I rest and self-reflect there. I also listen to music and one of my favorite songs is The Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel.
In your many encounters with criminals and rebels, what was your closest near-death experience?
I was 35 years old then, 1987 or 1988, in Jones, Isabela, the lair of the New People’s Army, when insurgents ambushed us and killed my Second Lieutenant Rosauro Danao Toda, Jr., who died in my arms. That ambush was (meant) for me, I was then Lieutenant Colonel and the provincial commander. The camp in Ilagan, Isabela, was later named in honor of Toda. He was then a new graduate of PMA batch 1987, a good young officer, so my heart really went out for my Second Lieutenant. His girlfriend was then on the way. I was so sad for this loss. But on death, I never felt fear, kasi fatalistic ako, kapag hindi mo talaga oras pa (because I am fatalistic, when it is not yet your time), I will just do my duty and it is up to God when is our time to go.
I’ve watched the movie 10,000 Hours starring Robin Padilla, inspired by your daring escape and hiding from the government and even Interpol. You were reportedly sighted in Hong Kong and Rome. How did you hide so well?
I was able to hide well because I’m experienced in capturing fugitives, so I know how not to be caught.
FFCCCII president Dr. Henry Lim Bon Liong told me he heard that when you were in hiding, whenever police or soldiers saw you, instead of arresting you, they’d salute you. Is this true?
After 2001, then President Arroyo had issued warrantless arrest against me when I was in hiding. At night, whenever I was traveling, several times I was stopped at checkpoints. The men in uniform would let me pass and tell me: “Mag-ingat kayo, Sir (Take care, Sir).”
Your colorful life has been made into two movies starring Rudy Fernandez and Robin Padilla. If a new film were to be produced about you now, who would you want to portray you?
The first movie about me, I was portrayed by actor Edu Manzano, then later Rudy and Robin. For a new movie, I’d like Coco Martin to portray me, because he was talented in portraying the policeman Cardo Dalisay in the teleserye Ang Probinsiyano.
You’ve survived anti-crime and political battles. What do you fear the most?
At this point in my life, I no longer have any fear, not even death. I have become fatalistic; I entrust my fate to God.
You’re not afraid of your wife?
We’re all afraid of our wives! (Laughs)