FILE PHOTO: Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson in hearing on Monday, December 13, 2021. (Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Noting that he has always helped calamity victims with or without elections, presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson slammed “calamity politics” as the “lowest form of campaigning.”
“In fact, I consider it abominable…Election or no election, we assist and help, period,” Lacson said in a statement Friday.
Lacson was asked about his reaction to the call made by Senator Manny Pacquiao for all presidential bets to come together for Filipinos affected by Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai).
Lacson and Pacquiao are both running for president in the May 2022 elections.
Pacquiao earlier appealed to fellow presidential aspirants to “set aside all politics” and pool their resources to help Filipinos displaced by the typhoon.
“If it was done through private communication, I would have responded privately as well and offered whatever resources we can share at our disposal in a coordinated effort,” Lacson said.
“Since it was done through media – it goes against my principled belief that ‘calamity politics’ is the lowest form of campaigning,” he added.
Lacson said his office, as well as friends and supporters, have helped Filipinos affected by past calamities “without fanfare and without any media coverage.”
“We did it in Cagayan Valley, and Bicol region and some other areas hit by strong typhoons,” he said.