Panfilo Lacson

This name uses Philippine naming customs; the middle name or maternal family name is Morena and the surname or paternal family name is Lacson.
Panfilo Lacson
Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery
In office
December 10, 2013 – February 10, 2015
President Benigno Aquino III
Senator of the Philippines
In office
June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2013
Director-General of the Philippine National Police
In office
November 16, 1999 – January 20, 2001
Preceded by Edmundo L. Larroza
Succeeded by Leandro Mendoza
Personal details
Born Panfilo Morena Lacson
(1948-06-01) June 1, 1948
Imus, Cavite, Philippines
Nationality Filipino
Political party Independent (2004-2007; 2007-2013)
UNO (2007)
LDP (2001-2004)
Spouse(s) Alice de Perio
Children Reginald
Ronald Jay
Panfilo Jr.
Jeric
Alma mater Lyceum of the Philippines University
Philippine Military Academy
Occupation Cabinet Secretary
Website www.pinglacson.net
Military service
Allegiance Republic of the Philippines
Rank Police Director General

Panfilo "Ping" Morena Lacson, Sr. (born June 1, 1948) is a retired Filipino police officer who served in the Senate of the Philippines from 2001 to 2013. He was Director-General of the Philippine National Police from 1999 to 2001 before being elected to the Senate.

To lead the management and rehabilitation efforts of the central provinces in the Philippines affected by Typhoon Haiyan, Philippines President Benigno Aquino III appointed Panfilo Lacson as Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery in December 2013.[1] Eight months into his job, Lacson secured the approval from President Benigno Aquino III of the phased implementation of the rehabilitation plan of six areas in the Yolanda corridor including that of Tacloban, Leyte, Samar and Cebu.

Early life

Panfilo Morena Lacson was born in Imus, Cavite on June 1, 1948.[2]

He finished grade school at the Bayan Luma Elementary School in 1960, and high school at the Imus Institute in 1964. He completed Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at the Lyceum of the Philippines University and in 1967, attended the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in which now Senator Gregorio Honasan was his classmate.

He was commissioned in the Philippine Constabulary (PC), then a major service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) responsible for maintaining peace and order and enforcement of laws in the country after his graduation in 1971. He earned a postgraduate degree of Master in Government Management from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila in 1996.

Police career

Lacson worked at the PC Metropolitan Command (Metrocom), Intelligence and Security Group (MISG) from 1971 to 1986. The MISG then was commanded by then Colonel Rolando Abadilla, a feared figure during Martial Law regime. Lacson, soon rose through the ranks becoming lieutenant colonel in the mid 1980s. After the 1986 People Power Revolution, he also served at the PC-INP Anti-Carnapping Task Force as its commander from 1986–1988, as Provincial Commander of the Province of Isabela from 1988–1989, as Commander of Cebu Metropolitan District Command (Metrodiscom) from 1989–1992. On 1991, he joined the then newly created civilian Philippine National Police or PNP formed as a result of the merger of the military Philippine Constabulary and the civilian Integrated National Police or INP, then formed in 1975 as an integration of all local police forces in the country and then under operational control of the PC. Soon, he became Provincial Director of the Province of Laguna from February to July 1992. He was then appointed to the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission as Chief of the Task Force Habagat from 1992 to 1995. From 1996 to April 1997, he was a project officer of Special Project Alpha.

As Chief of the Philippine National Police, Lacson was credited for the following:

• Achieveing 58% public approval rating for PNP, the highest in PNP’s history, and 78% approval rating for himself.

• Improving police efficiency through the 85-15 rule, by downloading 85% of PNP’s logistics to town and city police stations, while the remaining 15% is retained at headquarters.

• Eradicating the “Kotong” culture among policemen, and earned moniker “Kotong-Buster” from jeepney, taxi, bus and delivery truck drivers, farmers, market vendors, etc.

• Instituting "No-Take” policy

• Instilling discipline in the national police force and raised morale of officers by getting rid of ICU: Inept, Corrupt, Undisciplined cops.

• Stopping policemen’s use of recovered stolen vehicles.

• Founding the PNP Foundation Inc.

• Helping improve Asian regional police network in combating manufacture and distribution of illegal drugs in the country and in the region.

Kuratong Baleleng case

In 1995, the Presidential Anti-crime Commission (PACC) was linked to the killing of 11 members of Kuratong Baleleng in Quezon City. In 2003, the High Tribunal ordered the Quezon City Regional Trial Court to try the case against Lacson and 33 other police officials. The trial court however dismissed the criminal case, finding absence of probable cause. The special prosecuting team later moved for new trial before the High Tribunal to remand case to the trial court to present new evidence against Senator Lacson, inter alia. On May 2, 2008, the Supreme Court of the Philippines resolved to take cognizance of the motion of the families of the slain Kuratong Baleleng members for revival of the murder case against police officials and Senator Panfilo Lacson.[3]

On November 13, 2012, the Supreme Court in an en banc decision denied the government's motion to revive the case and affirmed the lower court"s decision dismissing it.[4]

Dacer–Corbito case

Dacer and Corbito were abducted the morning of November 24, 2000, while on their way to the Manila Hotel.

Former police superintendent Cezar Mancao named Lacson as the mastermind of the murders of Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito. The allegations were made in an affidavit that Mancao signed on February 14, 2009, according to The Philippine Star. Mancao was allegedly present when Lacson gave the hit order to then police senior superintendent Michael Ray Aquino sometime in October 2000.[5]

Lacson denied these allegations, stating that the Office of the President had pressured Mancao to sign the affidavit.[5]

He left the Philippines on January 5, 2010, shortly before charges against him were filed in court and his whereabouts for the next year were unknown. On February 5, 2010, the Regional Trial Court in Manila issued an arrest warrant against him. On February 12, 2010, Interpol issued an international notice for Lacson.

On February 3, 2011, the Court of Appeals withdrew the murder charges against the senator. Its decision cited Mancao as "not a credible and trustworthy witness".[6] Mancao has since turned fugitive after escaping from the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation.[7]

Lacson returned to the country on March 26, 2011, a month after the Supreme Court affirmed the CA's ruling on the case.[8]

Political career

Estrada cabinet

Lacson was appointed by then President Joseph Estrada to head the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) and to serve as Director-General of the Philippine National Police. Lacson's notable accomplishments were the reduction of corrupt policemen (Kotong Cops)and various organized crime syndicates engaged in kidnapping, drug trafficking and other nefarious activities. From April 30 to May 1, 2001, together with Juan Ponce Enrile, Gregorio Honasan, Miriam Defensor Santiago and Tito Sotto, he led the EDSA III protests in support of Joseph Estrada.[9][10] May 1, 2001, the protesters stormed Malacañang Palace.[10]

Senate, first term

Lacson ran for senator in the 2001 elections under the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), which was affiliated with Estrada's Puwersa ng Masa coalition. He won a seat in the Senate, finishing in the tenth place.

In late 2006, Lacson said he may run as mayor of the city of Manila in the 2007 midterm elections. However, he rescinded that decision and instead ran for re-election for a second Senate term under the Genuine Opposition coalition. He won reelection in the 2007 senatorial elections senatorial elections, ranking third.

Throughout his Senate stint, Lacson proved himself unique by foregoing of his Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel. In 2003, he delivered a privilege speech entitled Living Without Pork, exposing the evils of the pork barrel system, at the same time calling for its total abolition.

In the Senate, Lacson primarily authored the following:

He was also one of the co-authors of the following laws:

Lacson filed 41 bills that aimed to improve public service, enhance reproductive health, promote investments, bolster the country’s defense capabilities,

Lacson was one of the main authors of two milestone legislative measures of the Aquino administration, one of which was the Reproductive Health Act.

The measure seeks to promote responsible parenthood and to protect the health of the mother and child by giving them access to reproductive health services.

President Benigno Aquino III certified the bill as urgent, allowing Congress to pass it quickly. President Aquino signed it into law as Republic Act 10354 last December.

Another milestone legislative measure where Lacson was a main author was the Sin Tax Reform Act, which imposes higher taxes on tobacco and alcohol products to deter the public from buying such products.

But those who insist on buying such products will have to pay a higher taxes, whose proceeds will go to the government’s universal health program.

For the Sin Tax Reform Act, Lacson had filed Senate Bill No. 2763, which sought to restructure the excise tax on alcohol products; and Senate Bill No. 2764, which sought to restructure the excise tax on tobacco products.

President Aquino signed the bill into law as Republic Act 10351.

Lacson authored Senate Bill No. 2783, which strengthened further the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001. His work is now part of Republic Act No. 10167, which was approved and signed into law June 18, 2012.

Lacson also authored a key amendment to the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Act, which aims to provide more funds to the military for its much-needed capability buildup. President Aquino signed the measure as Republic Act 10349 on December 11, 2012.

Also, Lacson filed Senate Bill No. 2993, An Act Providing for a comprehensive law on firearms, light weapons and ammunitions, which was signed into law as Republic Act 10591.

Meanwhile, Lacson also authored the law converting Imus, Cavite from a municipality into a city. The measure became Republic Act No. 10161 on May 8, 2012.

Lacson also filed Senate Bill No. 2945, which reapportioned the province of Cotabato into three legislative districts. The bill was passed into law as Republic Act 10177.

He filed as well resolutions that led to many officials being held accountable, whether incumbent or former. Among these were:

Another resolution, Resolution No. 660, seeks to congratulate new Cardinal and Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle

Lacson also filed resolutions commending members of the police and military for safeguarding Filipinos, including:

As fiscalizer in the Senate, Lacson initiated the investigation of the following:

Presidential bid

Lacson ran for President in the 2004 general election against the incumbent President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. His candidacy stirred disagreements with its party president, Senator Edgardo Angara. The COMELEC decided to follow what was done in the Quirino-Avelino case splitting the certificates of votes into half. Angara appealed the case before the Supreme Court and reversed the COMELEC decision.

Lacson resigned from the party upon hearing the news. He continued campaigning and in the elections, he finished third, ahead of former Senator Raul Roco and Bro. Eddie Villanueva.

Aquino cabinet

In the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda, that caused widespread destruction, substantial damage and death in several areas in the country, particularly in the Visayas Region, President Benigno S. Aquino III appointed Ping Lacson as Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (PARR) with the mandate of unifying the efforts of government and other agencies involved in the rehabilitation and recovery efforts. As over-all manager and coordinator of rehabilitation, recovery, and reconstruction efforts of government, his office crafted the Yolanda Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan (CRRP) with a PhP167 Billion proposed funding, which provides for an over-all strategic vision and integrated short-term, medium-term and long-term programs in the Yolanda-affected areas. Lacson's efforts in the Yolanda rehabilitation lead to the institutionalization of certain mechanisms on rehabilitation of calamity-affected communities.

In December 2014, Lacson tendered his irrevocable resignation as PARR which took effect in February 2015. He recommended the transition of his office's accomplishments and best practices to a permanent government agency. Lacson also viewed the scheduled sunset review of Republic Act 10121, otherwise known as “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010”, as an opportune time to propose possible remedial measures that will help improve the effectiveness of the law, especially on the aspect of disaster rehabilitation and recovery.

References

  1. ↑ [blogs.wsj.com/searealtime/2013/12/02/philippines-aquino-appoints-past-senator-to-helm-typhoon-rehab/ Wall Streel Journal, Philippines’ Aquino Appoints Past Senator to Helm Typhoon Rehab]
  2. ↑ "Senator Panfilo M. Lacson". Senate of the Philippines. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
  3. ↑ gmanews.tv/story, SC defers action on revival of Kuratong case
  4. ↑ http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2012/november2012/162144-54.pdf
  5. 1 2 Ping gave hit order on Dacer - Mancao. The Philippine Star. March 16, 2009.
  6. ↑ Lawyer insists Mancao a credible witness, abs-cbnnews.com, March 16, 2011
  7. ↑ http://www.rappler.com/nation/28005-cesar-mancao-escapes-custody
  8. ↑ http://www.chanrobles.com/scresolutions/2011juneresolutions.php?id=205
  9. ↑ "Miriam to GMA: Resign or we will storm palace". Philippine Star. April 30, 2001. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  10. 1 2 "Remembering the Iglesia-led EDSA 3". Rappler. August 25, 2015. Retrieved April 27, 2016.

http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2012/november2012/162144-54.pdf

http://www.chanrobles.com/scresolutions/2011juneresolutions.php?id=205

External links

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