Get to know Ping Lacson before elections 2022; his background, educational and political achievements, and other details.

The May 9 elections are just a few weeks away. It is high time that we get to know our candidates so we can choose the right people to take the highest positions in our country. The Know Your Elections 2022 Candidate is a series of blogs containing fact-based information from the candidates’ official websites and other credible sources.

Below is the list of Presidential Candidates for Elections 2022 included in this series:

• Leody de Guzman
• Isko Moreno Domagoso
• Ping Lacson
• Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
• Manny Pacquiao
• Leni Robredo

Below is the list of Vice Presidential Candidates for Elections 2022 included in this series:

• Lito Atienza
• Walden Bello
• Mayor Sara Duterte
• Willie Ong
• Francis Pangilinan
• Vicente Sotto III

Presidential Candidate: Panfilo M. Lacson a.k.a Ping Lacson

Ping Lacson is the presidential aspirant of the Lacson-Sotto tandem, with Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III as his running partner for elections 2022. Below are his personal, educational, and political details.

Ping Lacson: Personal Information

Ping Lacson was born on June 1, 1948, in Imus, Cavite. He is married to Alice de Perio with 4 children: Reginald, Ronald Jay, Panfilo Jr., and Jeric.

Ping Lacson: Educational Information

Lacson finished his education and training in the Philippine Military Academy in 1971. He then proceeded with a master’s degree in Government Management in the Pamantasan ng Lungson ng Maynila from 1995 to 1996.

Other than his Bachelor of Science Degree in the PMA, the following are the courses he took during his police/military training:

• Intel Officers Basic Course in SITS, Fort Bonifacio (1973)
• Military Intel Collection Course in SITS Fort Bonifacio (1974)
• Counter URBAN Guerilla Warfare Course in Fort Magsaysay (1972)
• Incident Management Course in PSG, Malacañang
• Airmobile Operations Course Command and General Staff Course in Camp Crame, Quezon City
• Command General Staff Course in Fort Bonifacio

Ping Lacson: Non-political Work History

Before his time as a senator, Ping Lacson served in the military. Below marks each of his military and non-political position from 1971 to 2015.

• Metrocom Intelligence and Security Group (1971 to 1986)
• PC-INP Anti Carnapping Task Force (1986 to 1988)
• Provincial Commander of Isabel PC (1988 to 1989)
• Commander of Cebu Metrodiscom (1989 to 1992)
• Provincial Commander of Laguna PC (February to July 1992)
• Chief of the Task Force Habagat PCC (1992 to 1995)
• Project Officer of Special Project Alpha (1996 to 1997)
• Chief of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (1998 to 2001)
• Chief of the Philippine National Police (1999 to 2001)

During his term as PNP Chief, Lacon was able to raise the public approval rating of PNP – the highest in its history. He commenced the “no-take” policy and a fitness program in the public organization. The latter required a 34-inch waistline limit for police officers.

He gave 85% of the PNP resources to the frontline units and cleansed the police of “scalawags in uniform” or kotong cops.

Through these initiatives and by handling high-profile crimes such as kidnap-for-ransom cases, Lacson managed to revive the reputation of the Philippine National Police from 1999 to 2001. 

Ping Lacson: Political Information

Lacson began his political career when he became a senator from 2001 to 2013. Then from 2013 to 2015, he became the Presidential Assistant on Rehabilitation and Recovery. After his term, he ran again for a senatorial spot in 2016 and won. At present, he is a senator running for the highest post of the country during the elections 2022 – president.

In his time as Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery, his forefront contribution was helping the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name ‘Haiyan’).

He and his staff established the Yolanda Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan (CRRP). It detailed “institutional arrangements, including public-private partnerships; and cluster structures for infrastructure, social services, resettlement, livelihood, and support.”

The CRRP also contained the rehabilitation and recovery plans for local governments and guidelines on how to engage with the non-government sector.

When he became senator, he was a key person in taking down the multi-billion peso pork barrel system. However, 10 years before the multi-billion peso Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF or Pork Barrel) scam, Lacson had already detailed how the public funds were pocketed via PDAF on a privilege speech in March 2003.

Lacson also returned his PHP 200 million-a-year PDAF allocations to the National Treasury, which saved the government with PHP 2.4 billion in 12 years.

Accomplishments

During his time as a senator, he authored and sponsored various laws.

Below is the list of laws he is affiliated with:

• Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 (RA 11479), principal sponsor and author
  • An act that gives the Philippine authorities the needed legal tools to strengthen their efforts against crimes of terrorism.
• Bayanihan to Heal As One Act (RA 11469), author
  • An act
• GMRC and Values Education Act (RA 11476), co-author
  • An act 
• National ID Law (RA 11055), principal sponsor and perennial author
  • An act to provide citizens with easier transactions with the government and private entities; and help deter criminality.
• Joint Resolution 1, principal author
  • A resolution to authorize the increase the base bay of Military and other Uniformed Personnel (MUP, including the retired MUP of AFP, PNP, BFP, and BJMP.
• The Anti-Hazing Law of 2018 (RA 11053), author and sponsor
  • An act to provide heavier penalties to prevent hazing-related deaths.
• The Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 (RA 9485), author and sponsor
  • An act to bring down the number of steps and days involved in government transactions.
• Republic Act 11279
  • Act Transferring the Training of Police Recruits from the Philippine Public Safety College to the Philippine National Police
• Republic Act 11200
  • An Act Providing for Rank Classification in the Philippine National Police
• Republic Act 11059
  • An Act Establishing a Retirement Benefit System in the Office of the Ombudsman
• Republic Act 10973
  • Restoring the Subpoena Powers of the PNP-CIDG
• The Free Irrigation Law (RA 10969)
• Republic Act 10927
  • Amending the Anti-Money Laundering Act to Include Casinos as ‘Covered Persons’ 
• Republic Act 10591
  • An Act Providing for a Comprehensive Law on Firearms, Light Weapons and Ammunition
• The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 (RA 10354)
• The Sin Tax Reform Law (RA 10351)
• Republic Act 10349
  • An Act Amending the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program
• Republic Act 10167
  • An Act to Further Strengthen the Anti-Money Laundering Law
• Anti-Money Laundering Act (RA 9160 (as amended by RA 9194))
• Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (RA 9165)
• National Service Training Program Act of 2001 (RA 9163)
• Republic Act 9166
  • An Act Increasing the Base Pay of the Members of the AFP
• Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (RA 9208)
• Anti-Cheating Act of 2007 (RA 9416)
• The Philippine Dental Act of 2007 (RA 9484)

Below is the list of bills he filed to “curb criminality and corruption”:

• Budget Reform for Village Empowerment Act
• Expanded Anti-Wiretapping Act
• A bill requiring the registration of prepaid subscriber identity module (SIM) cards to prevent scams and crimes involving identity theft
• A bill imposing heavier penalties on those giving false testimonies
• A bill that offers substantial rewards and better protection to witnesses testifying against government officials or employees involved in corruption
• A bill that strips drug pushers, manufacturers, cultivators, importers, and financiers of their rights under the Bank Secrecy Act, so they can no longer hide their ill-gotten money in banks.

Anomalous activities called out by Ping Lacson

Ping Lacson was also a key person in exposing and calling for investigations in various anomalous activities, which includes:

• irregularities in the deal of the Philippine government and Argentine firm Industrias Metalurgicas Pescarmona Sociedad Anonima (IMPSA)
• “Jose Pidal” money laundering scheme
• jueteng
• Jocjoc Bolante diverting PHP 728 million in fertilizer funds
• the “Hello Garci” tapes which indicated cheating in the 2004 elections
• alleged overpricing of the decorative lampposts used in the Cebu City ASEAN Summit
• the plight of Filipino nurses recruited by Sentosa Recruitment Agency
• alleged bribery connected with the failed impeachment bid against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
• the botched $329-million contract between the Philippine government and China’s ZTE for a national broadband network project
• a Social Security System plan to channel workers’ pension funds into a government economic stimulus program
• alleged irregularities in the purchase of video equipment for the Senate’s Public Relations and Information Bureau
• the “tara list” and payola (payoffs) in the Bureau of Customs
• pork barrel in its various incarnations

Achievements during the 17th Congress

Ping Lacson is well-known for his battles against the pork barrel scam and related incarnates. During the 17th Congress, he was able to expose billions of “pork insertions” of Congressmen that realigned funds from the proposed 2019 budget. These 95 billion “pork” allocations are part of the appropriations vetoed by PRRD in RA 11260 or the General Appropriations Act of 2019.

Achievements during the 18th Congress

Lacson is the head of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security and Accounts during the 18th Congress. 

Below is the list of senate committees he is vice chairman of:

• Electoral Reforms
• Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes
• Justice and Human Rights
• Public Order and Dangerous Drugs
• Games and Amusement
• Finance
• Public Services

Below is the list of senate committees he is a member of:

• Rules
• Health and Demography
• Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement
• Local Government
• Energy
• Foreign Relations
• Basic Education, Arts and Culture
• Higher and Technical Education
• Labor, Employment and Human Resource Development
• Agriculture and Food
• Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (Blue Ribbon)
• Public Information and Mass Media
• Public Works
• Ethics and Privileges
• Climate Change
• Ways and Means

Some of the bills he filed at this time were mentioned in the previous section, including the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2019, the Budget Reform Village Empowerment Act of 2019 and more.

A few others include:

• a bill excluding government officials from the Bank Secrecy Act
• the Prepaid SIM Cards Regulations Act of 2019
• a bill reinstituting the death penalty for heinous crimes
• a bill imposing heavier penalties on lying witnesses,
• the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Act of 2019

For a full list of Ping Lacson’s Legislative Output, visit his official website.

Awards and Citations

• PC Metrocom Officer of the Year, Philippine Constabulary (1982)
• PMA Alumni Cavalier Award (Special Operations), Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association Inc. (1983)
• Certificate of Academic Excellence, AFP Command and General Staff College (1983)
• Philippine Constabulary Officer of the Year, Regional Command (RECOM) 7, Cebu City (1989-1990 and 1990-1991)
• Adopted Son of Cebu, Cebu City Council Resolution (1991)
• Police Director of the Year, Regional Command (RECOM) 7, Cebu City (1992)
• Special Medal of Honor, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP)
• Ten Outstanding Policemen of the Philippines, Philippine Jaycees Inc. (1998)
• Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (2019)
• Outstanding Cavalier Award for Public Administration, Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association Inc. (2020)
• Lifetime Achievement Award, Philippine Military Academy (2022)

Senator Ping Lacon also boasts numerous medals for his public service. They are listed as follows:

• 17 Military Merit Medals
• 3 Medalya ng Kadakilaan
• 3 Medalya ng Kagalingan
• 2 Outstanding Achievement Medals
• 5 Military Commendation Medals
• 5 Bronze Cross Medals
• 2 Medalya ng Papuri
• Luzon Campaign Medal
• Visayas Campaign Medal
• Combat Efficiency Medal

Special Affiliations

During his 50 years in service, Ping Lacson has been affiliated with various organizations. See the full list below:

• Philippine College of Rotary Governor, Rotary Club of Manila
• Lions President League of the Philippines
• Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption
• Manila Downtown Y’s Men’s Club
• Council of Past Lions Governors of the Philippines
• Cebu Chamber of Commerce
• Cebu Bankers Club
• Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention
• Metro Cebu Uptown Jaycees
• Rotary Club of San Fernando (LU)
• Assusasyon ng Kumentarista at Announcer ng Pilipinas
• Pugad Lawin Philippines, Inc.
• Police Cavaliers Association, Inc.
• National Police Commission
• Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce
• PMA Class ‘71 (MATATAG)
• Rotary Club of Caloocan
• Rotary Club of Metro Cebu Rotary Club of Cebu
• West Rotary Club of Cebu Port Center
• Rotary International District 390
• Rotary Club of Binan
• Direct Commission Batch ‘71 PNPC Chapter
• KBP Metro Manila Chapter

Trending Topics

Ping Lacson’s past as a fugitive from 2010 to 2011

During his elections 2022 presidential candidate interview with Jessica Soho last January, Lacson was reminded of his involvement in a murder case that led to him being a fugitive for a year.

Lacson fled the country after the court issued a warrant of arrest against him for the murders of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000. While in hiding, he was able to plead to stop the arrest orders.

He explained to Jessica Soho that he had a lawyer who “knew the law” and led him to the Miranda vs Tuliao Supreme Court ruling, where people facing warrants of arrest can file pleadings while in hiding.

Lacson also believes that the Dacer-Corbito case was a plot against him by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who he accused of corruption.

Lacson’s role during the martial law

Another issue touched during the elections 2022 presidential candidate interview was Ping Lacson’s role during martial law.

He was a member of the Military Intelligence Security Group (MISG) during the reign of former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. The MISG unit was also known to be behind the torture and disappearance of activists and critics of the dictator.

However, Senator Ping Lacson denied his involvement in the torture of political prisoners. Instead, he said he only worked on common crime cases, including kidnap-for-ransom and robbery. These are cases that were able to help him rise to the top in the Philippine National Police in the following years. – WhatALife!

Source: (pinglacson.net), (legacy.senate.gov.ph)

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Also Read: Know Your Elections 2022 Presidential Candidate: Leni Robredo