Why Lacson refused to accept monetary rewards from KFR victims’ families

Why Lacson refused to accept monetary rewards from KFR victims’ families

With vast experience in public service comes great wisdom, which Partido Reporma chairman and standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson shared to public transport drivers and operators present at their recently held dialogue in Centris, Quezon City.

In a speech that lasted for nearly 20-minutes, Lacson imparted one of the primary tenets in life that guided him throughout his storied law enforcement and legislative careers: to perform one’s duty without vainglory or the expectation of financial rewards.

The former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief turned veteran lawmaker arrived on this topic when he talked about some of the rescue operations he led back in the 1980s, at the height of many high-profile kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) cases, involving the children of business tycoons.

Lacson was then heading the Intelligence Service Group of the Philippine Constabulary Metropolitan Command (PC-MetroCom) with the rank of lieutenant colonel when he helped secure the release of Robina Gokongwei-Pe, eldest daughter of the late businessman John Gokongwei, Jr.

Robina was kidnapped with her cousin in 1981. Their abductors demanded a P10-million ransom, which Gokongwei refused to pay on the advice of Lacson. The distraught yet calm father, according to the senator, was willing to offer P500,000 to police officers if their mission became successful.

“Ang sabi ko sa kanya: ‘John, ang importante mailigtas natin si Robina dahil armado ‘yung mga kumuha sa kanya.’ Natapos, na-rescue po namin, at nakuha namin ‘yung mga kidnapper. Ako nga ‘yung sumipa ng pinto e,” Lacson recalled.

(I told him: ‘John, what is important is that we save Robina from her captors because they are armed. The ordeal ended, we rescued her and arrested the kidnappers. I was even the one who kicked the door open.)

About a week or two after the incident, Lacson said Gokongwei and his brother reached out to him personally to inform him that their financial reward for the police officers who rescued their children was still on the table.

Staying true to his moral code, Lacson told Gokongwei that he and his men were politely turning down the bounty because “We only did our duty. Hindi kailangan ng reward. Hindi kailangan ang mga pabuya (The reward is not necessary. There is no need for a prize money.)”

Lacson explained this had always been his policy whenever he would lead a group of people because he did not want his subordinates to be selective in accepting KFR rescue assignments and other cases that would be brought to their attention.

“Ito ‘yung aking patakaran sa opisina: Kung nagkataong gusgusin ‘yung pupunta sa amin, dudulog sa aming opisina at hihingi ng tulong, baka ‘yung aking mga tauhan sabihin: ‘walang ibibigay na reward ito. ‘Wag natin tulungan.’ At mula noon, talagang mula’t sapul, every time na meron kaming ma-re-rescue… Laging ang sagot ko: ‘We only did our duty,’” Lacson stated.

(This was my policy in the office: If an unkempt individual happened to be the one who went to us and asked for our help, the people working for me might say ‘this person will not give us any reward; let’s ignore him…’ And since then, every time we would rescue someone, I always tell [their families]: ‘We only did our duty.’)

Lacson, the son of a jeepney driver and textile vendor, attributed the virtues he learned in life from the simple lower middle-class upbringing of his parents. He said they were the ones who instilled in him to value people over money at all times, which helped keep him on the right side of history.

The presidential aspirant has repeatedly stated in as many public speeches that he has no plans to abandon the values he learned from his parents. He said their teachings have been very instrumental that enabled him to stay grounded in his public service career.

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