Lacson appointment cheered, jeered

The appointment of former Sen. Panfilo Lacson as rehabilitation czar who will oversee the reconstruction of the Visayas regions ravaged by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” on Monday drew cheers and jeers from both his supporters and critics.

His former colleagues in the Senate think Lacson may prove to be the best man for the gargantuan task given his no-nonsense attitude toward crime and graft.

Lacson, who refused to partake of the pork barrel as a senator and cracked down on crime when he was national police chief, fits the job to a T, they said.

“It is a tough job for a tough man for tough times. Ping is a law enforcer, and he’s good at it,” Sen. Loren Legarda, chair of the climate change committee, said in a text message.

“This is an extremely important position of leadership requiring indomitable strength and ability to serve. We welcome Senator Lacson’s appointment to this job,” neophyte Sen. Grace Poe said.

Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara said Lacson was a very good choice. “His record of honesty will certainly help erase doubts on his capability to handle the sensitivity of the position.”

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV also lauded Lacson’s appointment: “He is mission-oriented and he is not corrupt, so we can be assured that he will get his immense job done given the time and resources available.”

Those opposed, however, like ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, chided the President for appointing a close ally to the crucial task of rebuilding areas devastated by Yolanda.

“It appears the President made the appointment mainly on the basis of political consideration,” Tinio said in a statement Monday.

“This is unfortunate, given that the government relief and rehabilitation effort to date has been marred by political jockeying, with allegations that delivery of aid on the ground is being influenced by political affiliations,” he said.

He lamented that politics had not been taken out of the picture as the nation struggles to recover from the calamity.

He also noted that Lacson himself was reluctant to accept the post.

“What does former Senator Lacson bring to the table? That is the question. He himself expressed hesitation, noting that his forte is law enforcement,” he said.

Eduardo del Rosario, executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, also welcomed President Aquino’s decision to name Lacson the rehabilitation czar.

“This is good because we will have a single government agency which will address the rehabilitation efforts in the Visayas,” Del Rosario told reporters.—With a report from Marlon Ramos

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