Rejoinder from Lacson’s office vs Nery’s column

Sir:

Please allow us to set the record straight and disabuse the minds of your readers from the malicious claims made against Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson by John Nery in his Philippine Daily Inquirer column on Aug. 10, 2021.

First, we do not see the connection between a supposed “orgy of extrajudicial killings” and the appointment of then Police Director General Panfilo Lacson as Philippine National Police chief. Under PNP Chief Lacson, the police force earned the approval of the public: kotong cops disappeared; cops who were using recovered carnapped vehicles complied immediately with his orders to return them; and the PNP shaped up, with police personnel trimming their waistlines to 34 inches – to name a few. Surveys will bear this out.

That being said, we will not dignify the rest of Nery’s litany of gloom and doom against Sen. Lacson as it is not only baseless; it failed to prove anything other than his dislike for Sen. Lacson.

Finally, Sen. Lacson already made it clear he and Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III are offering themselves as an alternative to provide Filipinos with the leaders they need. Hindi sila DDS. Hindi sila Dilaw. Pro-Filipino sila. That is their message to the Filipino people, something Nery perhaps does not – and seemingly refuses to – understand.

We hope this clarifies matters. Thank you.

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