Payback time for Lacson, De Lima

MANILA, Philippines—Payback time?

Erstwhile fugitive Sen. Panfilo Lacson officially joined the powerful Commission on Appointments last May 9, putting himself in a position that would give him the opportunity to put a former nemesis, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, on the hot seat.

De Lima drew the ire of Lacson months ago when she ordered a manhunt for the senator in connection with his alleged involvement in the Dacer-Corbito murders in 2000.

Lacson was furious that De Lima did not change her position until she had absolutely ascertained that the Court of Appeals had quashed the criminal charges against the senator.

Lacson, who surfaced last March after more than a year in hiding, said he was now preparing “so many questions” for De Lima when her appointment comes up for deliberations in the panel.

“In the hearings, we determine if nominees or appointees are qualified or competent,” he told reporters in Filipino. “Of course, if (a nominee) is not qualified, he probably is not competent as well.”

Asked if De Lima was in for a hard time, he replied: “Just watch.”

De Lima, who attended a Senate committee hearing on Thursday, did not look fazed by the possibility of being grilled by the senator.

“Well, I would welcome that. Of course, I’d like to say that I’ll be ready even if it’s not Sen. Ping Lacson who will interrogate me at the CA. That’s expected…I would expect that kind of atmosphere,” she said.

But the justice secretary said she wished that senators would be “kinder to me,” and maintained that she had no quarrel with Lacson in particular.

“You know that when it comes to work, I never take things personally,” she said. “Any issue that I need to intervene in or any case I need to act on, I don’t care who is involved. I think I’m misinterpreted on this.”