Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Wednesday responded to remarks made by Sen. Imee Marcos, denying insinuations about his sexuality and personal appearance.
He said Marcos’ social media comment, which included a hair-pulling remark, was made in reaction to allegations of pork barrel-style allocations in the 2026 General Appropriations Act.
“First, my hair is not a wig. I will also add that there is nothing fake about my face. My teeth are not dentures. Nothing on any part of my face is fake, and I am certainly not gay,” Lacson said in Filipino.
The veteran lawmaker is a proud member of the so-called ‘macho bloc’ in the upper chamber with Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and former senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II.
“Please don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against homosexuals. It’s their choice, and I respect them for that,” he added.
Marcos later responded by saying she did not call Lacson gay and criticized his interpretation of her remarks, noting that there is nothing wrong with being gay or choosing to enhance one’s appearance.
“His (Lacson’s) understanding of what it means to be a real man is very shallow. There is nothing wrong with being gay, and the same goes for enhancing anything about yourself,” Marcos said.
“It is a person’s decision if they want to have anything done to their body. It is also their decision if they want to ruin their face, name, and dignity,” she said.
