Palace eyes Lacson for new anti-corruption post

Senator Panfilo Lacson. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III is considering Senator Panfilo Lacson as head of an anti-corruption and crime agency under the Office of the President, the senator himself disclosed on Tuesday.

Lacson said the President sent word to him about this plan.

“He merely sent word about his plan to appoint me to head an agency under the Office of the President that will combat corruption and crime. But no details yet,” he told reporters in a text message.

Lacson’ term in the Senate will end in 2013.

Lacson made the disclosure after Aquino said on Monday that it was time Lacson was given a new role along the lines of making sure the administration’s good governance campaign remains on the “daang matuwid” or straight path.

“[There are] no details yet since it is still months away from the sine die adjournment of the 15th Congress but I was told that he intends to offer me to head an agency under the Office of the President to combat crime and corruption at the level of law enforcement,” Lacson said in a text message.

Lacson first gained national prominence when he headed one of the task forces of the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission headed by then Vice President Joseph Estrada during the Ramos administration.

From the PACC, Lacson’s career in law enforcement soared higher during the presidency of Estrada, who appointed him head of the Philippine National Police.

“Perhaps, it’s about time we talk to Senator Lacson about a new role, and we have discussed that, and when his term ends, bringing back the wayward to the straight path would become faster,” President Aquino said at the proclamation of the Liberal Party’s candidates in Cavite on Monday.

Lacson’s son, Jay, is running as the LP’s vice gubernatorial bet in Cavite.  Cavite Representative Ireneo Maliksi, a former Cavite governor, is the ruling party’s candidate for governor in the vote-rich province.

With his term expiring in 2013, Lacson’s name first cropped up as a possible secretary of the interior even before the late Jesse Robredo died in a plane crash in August.

Lacson brushed off the reports, saying there was no offer because there was no vacancy in the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Originally posted at 09:59 am | Tuesday, September 25, 2012