Lacson tells son to prepare, face accusations head-on

Senator Panfilo Lacson advised his son on Thursday to face “head-on” the allegations thrown against him by resigned Bureau of Customs (BOC) chief Nicanor Faeldon.

“Kung gusto ipatawag ng kung anong committee, I’ll tell him (Lacson Jr.). I can only convince him. Di ako keeper niya, may sarili nang buhay yan (I’m not his keeper, he has his own life),” Lacson told reporters when asked of his move once Panfilo “Pampi” Lacson Jr. would be summoned to the next Senate hearing of the embattled BOC head.

“It’s his call. I can only advise him. Face this head-on,” added Lacson who is also the chair of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs.

Faeldon had earlier accused the younger Lacson of owning a cement company “Bonjourno,” which he said was tagged in a report by the Association of Cement Manufacturers of the Philippines as the “number one smuggler of cement in the country.”

READ: Faeldon fires back, accuses Lacson son cement smuggler

The BOC, Faeldon said, has uncovered alleged billions worth of 67 shipment of “smuggled” cement belonging to the company of Lacson’s son.

Faeldon also accused the younger Lacson of attempting to bribe his staff.

“Nagdala ng pera si Panfilo Lacson Jr… Matagal na po yang importer… Ano’ng big sabihin nito? Is he trying to bribe my staff?” he said.
(Panfilo Lacson Jr. brought money… he’s been a long-time importer… What’s the meaning of this? Is he trying to bribe my staff?)

“They wan’t me out of (the) Bureau of Customs because they don’t want this to come out,” Faeldon added.

Despite these allegations, Lacson said he would let his son answer for himself.

“But regarding kung anong accusation sa kanya, bahala siyang sumagot (what accusations hurled against him, he should be the one to answer that). Because my name has been dragged, that’s why ako na nag-volunteer na pakitawag ang media sa Senate para maharap ako ito (I volunteered to call the media at the Senate to see me),” Lacson said.

Aside from Lacson’s son, Faeldon also described the senator as a “smuggler” who is using his son’s company as a “dummy.”

“Senator Lacson this is not chismis, hindi ito kathang-isip kagaya ng paninira mo sa amin. Isa kang smuggler,” said Faeldon.

(Senator Lacson this is not hearsay, this is not pure imagination just like what you did to destroy us.)

READ: Faeldon points Lacson a smuggler

When asked about the nature of his son’s business, Lacson said he did not know anything more than it being a cement company.

“Nag-ano siya sa cement. Walang bawal doon. Di ko alam anong nature, basta alam ko meron siyang partners partners na nag-import sila ng cement. But he’s not a broker, I don’t think he is a broker,” Lacson said.

(He’s into cement business. Nothing illegal there. I don’t know the exact nature of it but I know he has partners who import cement. But he’s not a broker, I don’t think he is a broker.)

“I don’t even know the name of the company of my son. I don’t even know ang brand ng kanyang semento. I don’t even know,” he added.

Lacson also said he had warned his son to be prepared if he is hiding anything.

“Di ko alam. Ang sinabi ko lang sa kanya you better prepare all your documents. Kanina sabi ko kung meron kang tinatago riyan better be prepared,” the senator said when asked about his son’s plans.

(I don’t know, I just told him to be better prepared with all the documents. Earlier I told him if he hides something he should be prepared.)

“Because ako na mismo, I will not wait for other people much less Faeldon to file charges against him. Uunahan ko pa siya kung talagang merong kalokohan (I will go ahead of him if there was indeed irregularity.),” he added. JPV

READ: Lacson: Faeldon should have filed charges against my son