Former Senator Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson FILE PHOTO
DAVAO CITY, Philippines—The militant group youth Anakbayan was furious over former Sen. Ping Lacson for his “utterly insensitive” comments regarding victims of super typhoon “Yolanda.”
During the regular Malacañang Palace news conference on Wednesday, Lacson said the government’s rehabilitation efforts in areas ravaged by “Yolanda” were right on track as he cited the absence of “famine, epidemic and breakdown in law and order.”
“Perhaps, those who are going hungry are only those who are lazy,” he added.
Anakbayan, in a statement e-mailed to various media offices including the Inquirer’s Mindanao bureau, said “outrageous statements just like what Lacson said is actually one of the numerous insensitive, victim-blaming, and half-baked statements” the Aquino government “has been spewing for the last few months.”
The youth group said it was obvious that Lacson has failed to see or even “refuses to see the fact that their projects are anti-people, and not sustainable in nature.”
“The “Build Back Better” agenda under Lacson is “nothing but a legal corporate land grab in a rehabilitation program’s guise,” Anakbayan said.
Simply put, Lacson’s uncalled for statement added insult to injury, the group added.
Anakbayan said the Aquino government’s handling of Yolanda disaster was a failure.
“Even if (Lacson) repeats his statements on how the administration is doing its best in Visayas a thousand times, it will never be true. His delusional statements should be seen as proof that he is not competent enough to handle the situation in typhoon stricken areas in Visayas, just like his master,” it added.
Anakbayan cited the allegedly “substandard overpriced bunkers” the government has constructed in which the victims were being forced to live.
“But instead of actually helping the victims of Yolanda, the administration lied in the face of the public to hide its incompetence,” it added.
RELATED STORIES
Say what? Lacson draws flak for ‘lazy’ comment
Lacson: ‘Yolanda’ rehab work on track; no famine, no epidemic