If elected, Lacson to ‘plant agents’ in agencies to catch corrupt people in gov’t

CANDELARIA, Quezon — If elected, presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson said he will deputize ordinary citizens, including tricycle drivers, and “plant” them in government agencies to catch corrupt officers and officials.

In a dialogue with around 200 tricycle operators and drivers here, Lacson said these “agents” will pretend to be availing government services, such as getting permits, to catch officers or officials engaging in corrupt practices.

“Kapag ako naging pangulo, siya (Senate President Vicente Sotto III) naging bise presidente, babalikan namin yung inyong organization—matapang tapang ‘no, yung hindi takot mamamatay, yun, parang ililisensiya namin, parang agent,” Lacson said.

(If I became president and he vice president, we will get back to your organization, we’ll pick the bravest amongst you, who is not afraid to die, and we’ll deputize you to become an agent [against corruption].)

“Ide-deputize namin kayo na kayo yung kunwaring nagpapanggap na naga-apply ng permit, halimbawa sa LGU (local government unit), hanggang sa darating na panahon, hindi na alam, nung nasa mga gobyerno, kung yung kausap ba nila planted ng gobyerno para mahuli,” he added

(You will pose as someone who will be applying for a permit, like for example in an LGU, and there will come a time, that people in government do not know who they are dealing with, if they are transacting with someone who is planted in government to catch corrupt people.)

According to Lacson, he implemented the same method during his stint as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“Dun nawala yung kotong e. Confused na sila lahat ‘baka itong naglalagay sa akin, e ito pala’y pulis o kaya tricycle driver na kausap na pala ng pulis na huhuli sa ‘kin. Mawawala yung kotong, yan ang sikreto natin,” he said.

(With that, bribery was eliminated. They are confused if they are dealing with a police officer or a tricycle driver. That would be our secret.)

Lacson assured the deputized “agents” will be protected and given a reward for every officer they help get caught.

“Siguro naman kung mabigyan kayo ng isang P1,000, makapagpahuli kayo ng isang clerk na walang hiya, o isang opisyal ng gobyerno, mas mataas ang mapapahuli niyo, mas malaki yung gantimpala, baka yung kita niyo sa isang linggo makuha niyo na, pwede na kayong hindi mamasada ng isang linggo,” the senator said.

(Maybe if you get P1,000 reward, you can help catch a clerk who is shameless in doing illegal activities. The higher the position the higher the reward, and maybe you earn a week’s worth of salary in one go.)

“E kung makapagpahuli kayo ng secretary, yung pinakamataas sa isang departamento, aba, baka P100,000 yung matanggap ninyong pabuya kasi mas mataas, mas maganda. Masi magiging halimbawa yon,” Lacson added.

(The reward could reach P100,000 if you catch a corrupt secretary of a department, that would be a good example.)

“May nakaagapay sainyo. May kasama kayo. At saka kayo, lalagyan namin kayo ng transmitter. May kasama kayong pulis na naka-civilian yun, hindi mahahalatang pulis, hindi mahahalatang [taga] NBI (National Bureau of Investigation). Kaya magtulong-tulong tayo,” he further said.

(We will back you up. We’ll be here for you, and there will be a transmitter attached to you. There will be a policeman in civilian clothes who will be with you.)

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JPV