Senatorial candidate Panfilo Lacson expressed his full support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s policy regarding the Philippines not surrendering “even an inch” of its territory, particularly in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Lacson stated that the balance of power strategy adopted by the Marcos administration has proven effective in addressing threats in the WPS.
“One thing the President did that I support is forming alliances with countries that are as militarily strong, if not stronger than China. This is the balance of power I have always advocated,” he said.
“We are not inviting war through this balance; rather, we are preventing it. A country considering invasion or aggression against us will think twice knowing that militarily strong allies will come to our aid,” he added.
Lacson also highlighted the significance of the Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States, which he hopes remains untriggered to avoid the outbreak of war.
Additionally, he emphasized that strengthening and modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) remains the best long-term solution to address threats in the WPS.
“The long-term solution is to strengthen our AFP. I authored and sponsored a bill for the AFP’s modernization,” he noted.
He referred to key amendments he made to what is now Republic Act 10349, the revised AFP Modernization Act, which included a push for an initial budget of P75 billion for the first five years of the measure.
Meanwhile, the former senator assured the public of his commitment to continue his uncompromising style of public service should he earn a seat in the Senate again.
Lacson stated that, similar to his law enforcement days, his reward for a job well done would be the knowledge that he has the trust of the Filipinos he vowed to serve.
“If you entrust me with a Senate seat again, I will never waste your vote. I will continue my work as a senator—fighting wrongdoing and scrutinizing our national budget to benefit our people,” he said.
Lacson recalled an experience from August 1989 when, as head of the then Cebu Metropolitan District Command (Metrodiscom), he and his team rescued kidnap victim Emmanuel Lee, who was nine years old at the time, after a shootout with his abductors.