Lacson is not a Duterte enabler

We wish to disabuse the minds of your readers of the malicious imputations made by Rudy Romero in his Oct. 7 column that Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson is a “neo-oppositionist” who was among the “enablers” of President Rodrigo Duterte.

It is unfair that Mr. Romero inappropriately branded Sen. Lacson as among Mr. Duterte’s “enablers” just because he was part of the Senate super-majority.

It is sad that Mr. Romero glossed over Sen. Lacson’s not only calling out but also acting against wrongdoing and abuse under the Duterte administration as early as 2016, when he headed an investigation into the killing of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa. Sen. Lacson also headed the probe into the killing of teenager Kian delos Santos, with the policemen who killed Kian later found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Sen. Lacson has also repeatedly raised his voice in calling out the President’s defeatist attitude on the intrusion of Chinese vessels into our exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea, contrary to what Mr. Romero claimed in his column.

Finally, it is pathetic that Mr. Romero may have betrayed his lack of research by getting the Senator’s name wrong: it’s Panfilo Sr., not Jr.

Nevertheless, we hope this clears up the matter. Thank you.

 

JOEL LOCSIN
Media Relations Officer
Office of Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson