Partido Reporma presidential bet Sen. Panfilo Lacson stressed on Wednesday he is open to the proposed use of marijuana strictly for medical purposes.
“I am keeping an open mind on it. I am even supportive of the idea. Once the appropriate law is passed, this will be good for our people’s health,” he said.
However, Lacson maintained he is not open to legalizing the use of marijuana for entertainment.
He said the proper procedures must be observed for marijuana, considered an illegal substance under Republic Act 9165, to become legal.
“I am open to legalizing the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, not entertainment. And the proper processes must be followed,” said Lacson.
Meanwhile, the senator said he did not intend to become a soldier and policeman in the first place, which eventually paved the way for his successful career in public service.
He originally planned on becoming a lawyer because it was his childhood dream to join the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) as an agent, he said in an interview with broadcast journalist Malou Mangahas.
“I wanted to be a lawyer because I wanted to become an NBI agent. That was my childhood ambition. But, you know, sometimes a twist of fate happens to us),” Lacson said.
Looking back to how his journey began, Lacson said he once had a high school classmate, who actually was the one who hoped to enter the Philippine Military Academy (PMA). This was around 1966 to 1967 when they were both into their freshman year in college attending different schools in Imus, Cavite.
Lacson was taking up Bachelor of Arts in Political Science as a pre-law course at the Lyceum of the Philippines at the time, while his friend studied at nearby Mapua, which also served as the entrance examination center for those who were willing to sign up for the PMA.
“He asked me to accompany him because he wanted to take an entrance examination (for the PMA). I ended up getting an application for myself and filling it up. We both took up the test, but he did not pass, I was the one who passed,” he further said.
Lacson took the opportunity just the same and decided to pack his bags for Baguio City, where the PMA campus is located. The erstwhile budding lawyer would eventually become a PMA cadet and graduate along with the members of ‘Matatag’ Class of 1971.
After receiving his formal education, Lacson immediately joined law enforcement, working for the Philippine Constabulary Metropolitan Command (Metrocom). He was assigned to the Metrocom Intelligence and Security Group, which sharpened his intelligence gathering and investigative skills.
In another twist of fate, Lacson revealed to Mangahas that he and his old friend would cross paths once again, but they stood on the opposite sides of the law this time around. His friend got involved in a murder case, and it was Lacson who served the warrant for his arrest.