Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson (INQUIRER file photo)
MANILA, Philippines — Calling it “sayang” (unfortunate), presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday said President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration could have succeeded in its fight against illegal drugs and corruption if it was able to utilize the chief executive’s popularity among Filipinos.
During the televised interview with broadcast journalist Jessica Soho over the weekend, Lacson responded with “sayang” when asked to describe Duterte.
In an interview on Bombo Radyo on Monday, Lacson went into detail with this description of the President, lamenting the missed opportunities in Duterte’s fight against illegal drugs and corruption as well as the issue of West Philippine Sea.
The family and friends of Kian delos Santos offer candles and prayers at the spot in Caloocan City where he was shot dead. (LYN RILLON)
On the issue of the war against illegal drugs, Lacson said it could have been successful if policies were properly implemented.
“Sa akin, sinabi ko yung ‘sayang’ kasi unang-una, for all his noble intentions, yung pure intentions niya at yung sinseridad ni Pangulong Duterte laban sa ilegal na droga, dapat nag-succeed kung tama yung implementasyon without the PNP (Philippine National Police) having to resort to extrajudicial means,” Lacson said.
This photo, taken in September 2017, shows three police officers accused of killing 17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos appearing for their preliminary investigation at the Department of Justice. From left: PO1 Jerwin Cruz, PO3 Arnel Oares and PO1 Jeremias Pereda. Judge Rodolfo Azucena Jr. of Caloocan Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 125 found them guilty of murder in November 2018. (File photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
(For me, I described him it as unfortunate because for all his noble intentions to fight illegal drugs, he could have succeeded if there was proper implementation without the PNP having to resort to extrajudicial means.)
Anti- corruption issues
Lacson likewise touched on the issue of Duterte’s fight against corruption, saying the President’s allies are treated differently when linked to the issue.
“Pangalawa, dahil sa kanyang immense popularity, yung kanyang overwhelming mandate, susuportahan siya ng mga tao sa kanyang laban sa corruption. Ito yung mga pangunahing advocacy nya eh,” Lacson said.
(Secondly, given his immense popularity and his overwhelming mandate, the public will support him in his fight against corruption. That’s his primary mandate.)
“Pero along the way sa implementation, nakita natin na hindi lamang isa yung standard. Kapag mga kaalyado, kaibigan, parang iba yung treatment,” he added.
(But along the way in the implementation, we saw double standards. When his allies and friends are linked to corruption, they are treated differently.)
West Philippine Sea issues
Further, given Duterte’s close ties with China’s president Xi Jinping, Lacson said thousands of Filipino fishermen should not “suffer” and should not fear returning in the disputed waters in the West Philippine Sea.
Around 220 Chinese militia vessels were spotted moored at Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea last March 7, 2021. (NTF WPS)
The country is also losing billions of pesos in aquatic resources in the West Philippine Sea, Lacson added.
“Sayang”
“’Yung tatlong malalaking punto na yun na advocacy niya, sana nag-succeed tayo,” Lacson said, referring to Duterte’s fight against corruption, illegal drugs, and the West Philippine Sea dispute.
(We could have succeeded in those three advocacies.)
“Kaya sabi ko sayang kung na-capitalize lang yung kanyang overwhelming mandate, yung kanyang immense popularity sa ating mga kababayan, at tsaka yung kanyang magandang intensyon, sana sa tatlong punto man lang na yun, nagsu-succeed na tayo. Dun ako nagsasabi na sayang yung opportunity,” he added.
(If he capitalized on his overwhelming mandate and immense popularity among Filipinos, plus his good intentions, we could have succeeded at least in those three aspects. That what I describe as a missed opportunity.)