FILE PHOTO: Senator Panfilo Lacson. (Screen grab/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Panfilo Lacson said Tuesday he will not turn the Philippines into a “police state” if he is elected as president.
Lacson, who previously served as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said he wants to focus on regaining the trust of the public toward the government.
“No, far from it,” Lacson said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel when asked about concerns that he will turn the country into a police state if he wins the 2022 presidential elections.
“Ako ang advocacy ko talaga, ang vision ko dito sa ating country yung makita yung Pilipino na feeling proud, nakataas ang noo, at bumalik ang tiwala sa gobyerno,” he added.
(My advocacy and vision for our country is really to see Filipinos who are proud and have their heads held high as we regain their trust toward the government.)
According to Lacson, government officials should be able to earn the respect of the public, pointing out that the “number one” problem in the Philippines is the government itself.
“For the longest time, dahil na rin sa kagagawan ng gobyerno, mga taong gobyerno, nawala ang tiwala na ‘yun. Nawala ang respeto and it’s something that government people cannot demand, it can only be earned through good governance,” Lacson said.
(For the longest time, due to the government’s own fault, public trust was lost. There’s no longer respect and it’s something that government people cannot demand, it can only be earned through good governance.)
“The number one problem of this country is the government and the solution is the government. Everything starts and ends with the government,” he added.
Lacson previously assured that there will be no martial law under his leadership if he is elected president.