Duterte ‘not always correct’ about allies

MANILA, Philippines — While the opinion of President Rodrigo Duterte matters, Senator Panfilo Lacson said the Chief Executive is “not always correct” when it comes to his close friends and allies.

“He describes his close friends and allies like ‘lily-white driven snow’ and infallible while everybody else are demons and idiots,” Lacson said over Twitter Friday.

“While his opinion matters because he is the President of the republic, we know he is not always correct with a poor batting average in this regard,” he added.

Lacson’s tweet comes after Duterte cleared House Speaker Alan Peter

Cayetano of corruption amid alleged irregularities in the preparations for the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

He describes his close friends and allies like ‘lily-white driven snow’ and infallible while everybody else are demons and idiots. While his opinion matters because he is the president of the republic, we know he is not always correct with a poor batting average in this regard.

— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) November 29, 2019

Cayetano chairs the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc).

However, in an interview with reporters after the bicameral conference committee held its first meeting for the proposed 2020 national budget, Lacson said he was not referring to Cayetano in his tweet.

“Not Speaker Cayetano,” he said when asked if his tweet was referring to the House Speaker.

Lacson clarified that he was “talking in general terms.”

“Ang past na may problema like (former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Nicanor) Faeldon. Basta kakampi, walang bahid ng corruption. And we all know that’s not true. At hindi na magiimbestiga kasi incorruptible,” he said.

(I was talking about the past who had problems like Faeldon. When it comes to allies, there’s no corruption. And we all know that’s not true. And then there will be no investigation because incorruptible).

“Twice already sa (in) BuCor and BOC (Bureau of Customs), ang talagang issue (the real issue is), corruption. And yet there’s no investigation being conducted by the executive branch because the President has spoken he believes so much in Faeldon na hindi ito corrupt,” (that he is not corrupt) he added.

In 2017, Faeldon was dragged into the shabu smuggling controversy while he was BOC chief.

He vacated his post amid the issue and was then appointed as head of the BuCor in 2018 where he was questioned over the alleged wrongful release of heinous crime convicts through the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law.

“Aside from the name I already mentioned, wala akong pinapatungkulang iba (I’m not referring to anyone else),” Lacson further said.

The senator also noted that while the President cleared Cayetano of corruption, it does not mean the latter would be exempted from a possible investigation.

“Kasi sabi niya (Duterte) rin magiimbestiga ang executive department. He just clarified the statement issued by Mr. (Salvador) Panelo, the spokesperson, na sinasabi niyang maski kaibigan hindi malilibre, implying that Speaker Alan might have been involved,” he said.

(Because he said that the executive department will conduct an investigation. He just clarified the statement issued by Mr. (Salvador) Panelo, the spokesperson, that even a friend will not be exempted from investigation, implying that Speaker Alan might have been involved).

“So nilinaw lang, clarify ni President Duterte, na he personally believes na kung may corruption na nangyari sa Phisgoc, hindi kasama si Speaker Alan,” he added.

(So he just clarified that he personally believes that if there us corruption in Phisgoc, Cayetano is not involved).