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Friday, March 29, 2024

Lacson admin to be tough vs. criminality

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Should he win the presidential election in 2022, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson vowed on Monday to implement an iron-fisted approach against criminality but in accordance with the rule of law.

Lacson, who headed the Philippine National Police from 1999 to 2001, said criminals—including abusive policemen involved in criminal activities—should be neutralized due to the threat they pose.

“Against criminals, yes – but in accordance with the rule of law. We will always observe the rule of law,” Lacson, the standard bearer of Partido Reporma, said in an interview on ANC when asked if he will be “iron-fisted” against criminals if he wins.

He said this will entail disciplining law enforcers so they do not become abusive.

When he led the PNP, Lacson instilled such discipline in the PNP and booted out abusive policemen, especially the “kotong cops.”

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Lacson made clear that the only time law enforcers can kill criminals is in self-defense and in the performance of their duties as law enforcers.

Under a Lacson presidency, he said policemen who engage in criminal practices such as recycling and selling illegal drugs will not be tolerated. He said such practices caused the Duterte administration war on drugs to start off on the wrong foot.

“It started on the wrong foot. If you tolerate something like that it grows bigger and the problem becomes more serious. We should nip them in the bud to make them more answerable,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lacson also defended the right of his supporters in the city of Manila to wear face masks promoting his presidential candidacy.

He also lauded the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) for looking into the incident where members of the Manila Police District reportedly harassed tricycle drivers sporting face masks backing the tandem of Lacson and his running mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

Lacson said he was surprised by the reaction of fellow presidential bet and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on the issue.

According to Lacson, Domagoso said in an interview in Laguna that he was not “tsismoso” (gossip) when the mayor was queried about MPD cops asking tricycle drivers to take off or turn around face masks given by Lacson and Sotto recently.

“The least that I would want from him (Domagoso) is to say that we will look into this, and if this is wrong and if it’s true, then make those who did it responsible. That’s the least that I expected from a gentleman like Isko,” the veteran senator said.

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