Lacson-Sotto Tandem Readies Two-Pronged Solution to Deal With Pandemic

Lacson-Sotto Tandem Readies Two-Pronged Solution to Deal With Pandemic

October 26, 2021 - A two-pronged strategy centering on health and the economy will highlight the response of Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson and Senate President Vicente "Tito" C. Sotto III to the Covid pandemic and its lingering effects, should they win in the May 2022 general elections.

Lacson said this on Tuesday even as he stressed vaccination will be the first step to all these, as the efforts to reopen our economy cannot take place without achieving herd immunity first.

"Dalawa ang napakalaking problema sa pandemic: Health at economy. Vaccination ang Number 1 solution dahil nakita natin sa ibang bansa pag mataas ang vaccination rate nakapagbukas sila ng ekonomiya. Yan dapat pag-ukulan natin ng pansin (The pandemic has brought two big problems, to our health and our economy. Vaccination is the Number One solution because in other countries, economies will reopen if the vaccination rate is high. So that is what we need to focus on)," he said in an interview on DZRH radio.

"Maraming pagkakamali sa simula, pero pwede pang i-correct yan (Our authorities may have taken many missteps at first, but hopefully there is still time to correct the situation)," he added.

Lacson is running for President under Partido Reporma, while Sotto is running for Vice President under the Nationalist People's Coalition.

Presently, Lacson said he and Sotto are in the process of consulting health experts to find alternatives to lockdowns that have crippled the economy but failed to stop or even slow down the spread of Covid.

On the other hand, Lacson said he and Sotto are studying ways to reopen the economy, including improving our competitiveness and offering incentives to attract foreign investors.

He said they have to factor in the high costs of power and labor while implementing the digitalization of our economy and the interoperability of agencies in the bureaucracy.

"Ito dapat tumutulong sa aming ekonomista at iba't ibang expert sa iba't ibang field (We are consulting with economists and experts in various fields)," he said.

"Ang iba digitalized na, may interoperability ang kanilang national at local government agencies. Tayo naiwanan diyan (We have been left behind. Other countries have digitalized their economies where their national and local government units have interoperability)," he added.

Lacson also reiterated it is time to put more resources into research and development to improve our competitiveness, "in this day and age of modern information technology."

This is aside from bringing down corruption, which Lacson said can be done by imposing a single standard of governance - and more importantly, leadership by example.

Meanwhile, Lacson reiterated that should he become President in 2022, he will appoint key government officials based not so much on their background but on their qualification for the job, competence and integrity.

"In appointing people to handle matters like health and the economy, you cannot base your choice on the person's background. You have to look at the person's qualification and competence for the job, along with his or her integrity," he said.

He also said that while the war on illegal drugs will continue, it will follow the holistic formula of Sotto, where authorities will concentrate not only on law enforcement but also on drug abuse prevention.

"Tama si Senate President Sotto, hindi lang puro law enforcement. Dapat holistic ang approach laban sa droga (Senate President Sotto is right. We cannot solve this through law enforcement alone. Our approach against illegal drugs should be holistic)," he said.

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Lacson: Pandemic Underscores Need for Inclusive National Budget

Lacson: Pandemic Underscores Need for Inclusive National Budget

October 25, 2021 - The Covid pandemic and its continuing effects underscore the need to have a national budget that is participatory, consultative, development-oriented and inclusive, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said Monday.

Lacson, addressing the "Budget Serye 2021" of Social Watch Philippines, said the budget is the most important tool to address social, economic and political problems, which are magnified by the pandemic.

"The national budget is the government's most important tool in achieving its goals, especially in the midst of an unprecedented health crisis when all our social, economic and political problems have magnified into massive scale," he said.

"More than ever, we must demand for a national budget that is participatory, consultative, development-oriented, and inclusive - one that equalizes opportunities for all and serves the will of our people," he added.

Also, Lacson reiterated his shared commitment with SWP and its Alternative Budget Initiative (ABI), to promote citizens' active participation in crafting the national budget.

Lacson has earned a reputation as the watchdog of the national budget, flagging and pushing for the removal of dubious and useless appropriations (a.k.a. pork barrel) from the yearly budget bill.

In August, he resigned as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, and as Chairman of the panel's Subcommittee C, so he can focus on scrutinizing the P5.024-trillion budget for 2022, as well as to address the advent of red flags raised by the Commission on Audit in its audit reports of several agencies.

On the other hand, Lacson has pushed for budget reform by crafting bills such as the Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment (BRAVE), which ensures resources for local development projects by downloading funds to the local government units.

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THE BEST TEAM!

 THE BEST TEAM!

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GALIT AKO SA CORRUPT AT KRIMEN-SEN PING LACSON

GALIT AKO SA CORRUPT AT KRIMEN-SEN PING LACSON

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O TARA NA, KAY PING LACSON NA!

LATEST JINGLE OF SEN PING!

O TARA NA, KAY PING LACSON NA!

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Senior Gov't Health Officials, Tumulong Bumuo Ng Health Agenda Ni Ping

Senior Gov't Health Officials, Tumulong Bumuo ng Health Agenda ni Ping

Please Refer to: Ashley Acedillo, Party Spokesman

Oktubre 24, 2021 - Mas komprehensibong health agenda ang isusulong ni Senador Ping Lacson matapos ipresenta sa kanya nina dating Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, dating Food and Drug Administration Director General Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go at Eye Bank Foundation president Dr. Minguita Padilla ang kanilang panukalang national health agenda.

Pormal na tinanggap ito ni Lacson nang ipinresenta nila ito sa kanyang policy team noong unang linggo ng Oktubre.

Ang kanilang panukala na "Health Agenda 2022 and Beyond," ay produkto ng pinagsama-samang karanasan nina Cabral, Hartigan-Go, at Padilla sa sektor ng kalusugan at pagtatrabaho sa gobyerno. Hinanda ito bilang gabay sa mga interesadong presidential candidates sa kanilang pagbuo ng polisiyang pang-kalusugan.

Para kay Padilla na kasama sa senatorial slate ng Partido Reporma na pinamumunuan ni Lacson, ang usapang kalusugan ay hindi dapat napupulitika.

Si Padilla at ang dalawa pang nag-akda ng naturang agenda ay umaasa na ang susunod na magiging Pangulo ay magkakaroon ng mas maayos na polisiya para sa kalusugan ng mamamayan.

Kasama rin sa kanilang grupo ang mga nakaraan at kasalukuyang health officials at miyembro ng academe.

Siniguro naman ni Lacson na masusi nilang pag-aaralan ang health agenda bilang gabay sa mga polisiya at programa ng gobyerno, kabilang na ang mas epektibong pag responde ng bansa sa Covid-19 at pangmatagalang plano para maisaayos ang sitwasyon ng healthcare sa Pilipinas simula 2022 at sa mga susunod pang taon.

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Lacson Health Agenda Gets a Boost from Senior Govt Health Officials

Lacson Health Agenda Gets a Boost from Senior Govt Health Officials

Senator Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson's health agenda just got a big boost when former Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, former Food and Drug Administration Director General Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go and Eye Bank Foundation president Dr. Minguita Padilla formally presented their proposed national health agenda to the presidential candidate.

The agenda was delivered on the first week of October to Lacson’s policy team upon their request, to which Lacson has formally accepted.

The proposal, entitled "Health Agenda 2022 and Beyond," is the product of Cabral, Hartigan-Go, and Padilla's collective experience in the health sector and in government. It was prepared as a guide for all interested presidential candidates in health care policy.

Padilla, who is also a senatorial candidate of Partido Reporma chaired by Senator Lacson, said that the group’s philosophy is that health should be beyond politics. 

The three proponents also hope that the next president will have sound health policies. 

The group has since been joined by other former and current health officials and members of the academe.

Lacson and his team have assured the three that they will closely study the health agenda as a guide for their health policies and programs. These include action plans that will address the country’s COVID-19 response and long-term plans to improve healthcare in the Philippines beginning 2022 and beyond.

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Ashley Acedilo

Party Spokesman

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‘Let’s not overregulate’: Lacson wants less gov’t intervention in COVID vaccination drive

‘Let’s not overregulate’: Lacson wants less gov’t intervention in COVID vaccination drive

Presidential candidate Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Saturday said a government too involved in the COVID-19 vaccination drive slows down the distribution of shots and public immunization.

“Ang daming pahirap. Ang isang solution is less government intervention particular na kung paano ita-trato ang ating private sector, business sector. Huwag tayo mag-overregulate kasi diyan tayo mahihirapan sa pagbangon ng ating ekonomiya,” Lacson said in a Facebook Live town hall with residents of Antipolo City’s second district.

(There are too many hurdles. One solution is less government intervention, particularly how we deal with the private and business sectors. Let us not overregulate because that’s slowing down our economic recovery.)

Lacson also reiterated his pitch for good governance as a solution to what he said is the problem of bad governance in the country.

He urged voters, too, to look beyond personalities and gimmick, and choose candidates based on their competence, experience, loyalty to public service, and solutions to address problems. 

Lacson said he and his running mate, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, share common positions in addressing the drug problem through rehabilitation, shunning corruption, and empowering local governments through budget reform.

“The biggest problem of this country is government, bad government. At ang solusyon hindi rin lalayo doon sa problem (The solution is not far from the problem) . . . It lies in the face of the problem itself. Government din ang solusyon, good government (is also the solution),” Lacson said.

 

“Ayusin natin ang gobyerno para maayos ang buhay ng mga Pilipino (Fix the government and we fix the lives of Filipinos.”

Former Antipolo 2nd district Representative and retired police general Romeo Acop threw his support behind Lacson, vouching for his former police colleague’s character, competence, and capability.

 

Acop, Lacson’s upperclassman at the Philippine Military Academy, was PNP comptroller during Lacson’s stint as PNP chief and Lacson’s classmate at the staff college. He has known Lacson for more than 50 years.

 

Acop said Lacson ensured that resources and logistics reached frontline units and supported Lacson’s program to curb corruption and instill discipline in the police force. He related how Lacson refused an offer of reward for rescuing kidnap victim Robina Gokongwei-Pe, saying he was just doing his job and how Lacson never publicized his helping those in need.

Lacson lauded the heroism of public servants and frontliners, including Rep. Resurreccion Acop, a doctor and wife of Acop, who died because of COVID-19.

 

Senatorial candidates running under the Lacson-Sotto tandem also made their pitch for the tandem.

 

Former Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista said Lacson and Sotto would ensure that resources would reach local governments to enable them to respond adequately to problems.

 

“Sinasabi ni vice-president Tito Sotto, ‘Alam mo maganda ang plano ni President Ping Lacson,’ kasi hanggang sa barangay level, simula po sa probinsiya hanggang sa mga lungsod, hanggang sa mga munisipyo . . . Mararamdaman natin ang pambansang pamahalaan dahil galing po sa itaas, sa pondo, sa pagsasaayos ng pondo o tinatawag ni president Lacson na budget reforms ay bababa po iyan hanggang sa barangay para po ang pagtugon sa mga pangangailangan po (nila),” Bautista said.

 

Another senatorial candidate, Paolo Capino, said only Lacson and Sotto have given a PWD person such as him to be represented in their senatorial slate.

 

“Isa po itong repleksiyon ng kanilang paninindigan sa mga hindi napapansin masyado ng bayan. Mas marami po silang big time na pwedeng mapili po pero si Senador Lacson at Senador Sotto ang nagpakita at nagpapatunay ng kanilang kalinga sa mga ordinaryong tao lalo na sa mga may kapansanan na tulad ko,” Capino said.

 

Answering questions from Antipolo residents, Lacson reiterated his plan to lift lockdowns and open the economy, saying the decision will be made in coordination with medical experts and based on data and science.

Eye Bank founder Dr. Minguita Padilla, also a senatorial candidate supporting Lacson-Sotto, advocates for frequent COVID-19 testing and make testing available for free or at a cheap price and setting up of generic drugs factories to make the price of medicines cheap. 

 

Sotto was unable to join the virtual program, citing a conflict in schedule.

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Let’s end 56.5 years of kleptocracy

Let’s end 56.5 years of kleptocracy

By: Hector Tarrazona

Kleptocracy, according to Wikipedia, “is a government whose corrupt leaders use political power to appropriate the wealth of their nation, typically by embezzling or misappropriating government funds at the expense of the wider population.”

From Dec. 30, 1965, when Ferdinand Marcos became our president, to June 30, 2022, when a new president will have been elected, it will be exactly 56.5 years. This is a dark period of kleptocracy in our history from dictator Marcos to our worst president, Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

In between Marcos and Duterte, we had Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and Benigno Aquino III, all weak leaders with varying degrees of mediocrity. They all failed to stop thievery in government. In Estrada’s case, he was kicked out from Malacañang by Edsa People Power Revolution 2 because of brazen plunder involving $78 million to $80 million.

If we are suffering now, it is mainly because of the unabated corruption in our government caused by the insatiable greed of our government officials. We now know that even the money for the COVID-19 pandemic was channeled to Pharmally, whose owners are more loved by President Duterte than the 110 million suffering Filipinos.

We can end our country’s 56.5 years of kleptocracy by electing one of the two most qualified presidential candidates, Sen. Ping Lacson or Vice President Leni Robredo. Either one of them can minimize, if not totally eradicate, corruption in government.

With all due respect to the rest of the 97 presidential candidates, I would like to humbly advise them to withdraw from the presidential race and help campaign for Senator Ping or VP Leni instead. It is a great sacrifice on their part, but it would be for the good of our country and all of us, especially the future generations.

Instead of running for president, my unsolicited advice for former senator Bongbong Marcos is to apologize to the Filipino people on behalf of his father who “embezzled $5 billion to $10 billion” from 1972 to 1986, according to Transparency International’s Global Corruption Report 2004. Then, he must return the money and other properties that belong to the government.

These two actions would somehow assuage the pent-up emotions of people, especially the victims of martial law. They would also lessen the guilty feelings of the Marcoses, even as they remain in complete denial to this day.

Should Bongbong Marcos refuse to withdraw his candidacy for president, let’s give him zero vote in our respective precincts. The son of the dictator and the direct heir and beneficiary of the Marcos loot does not deserve to be our president. If the Marcoses were in another country, some members of the family would have been languishing in jail, or all of them could have been killed by an angry mob during the 1986 revolution.

But we are in the Philippines where most of our elected leaders and decision-makers are suckers for tyrants. In addition, our misplaced kindness is also the injustice that oppresses us.

Again, let us stop kleptocracy by voting Senator Ping or VP Leni for president in May 2022. And let us all pray to our God in heaven for this to become a reality, so that we could end our miseries and sufferings as a people.

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Hector Tarrazona is a 1968 PMA graduate, a member of MDM batch 1991 and scholar of AIM, and a jet fighter pilot. He was No. 3 in the hit list of Malacañang in 1985-86 as an original member of RAM’s 11-man ad hoc steering committee. As the most senior officer left in Fernando Air Base, Lipa City, he stopped its officers and men from joining the 1989 coup attempt that almost toppled the government of President Corazon Aquino.

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Lacson: Mayor Bistek a Revelation, Deserves Senate Seat

 Lacson: Mayor Bistek a Revelation, Deserves Senate Seat

October 24, 2021 - Former Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista is a revelation who deserves a Senate seat.

Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson stressed this late Saturday after hearing Bautista speak on the need to empower local government units (LGUs) to deal with disasters and other problems.

"Mayor Herbert 'Bistek' Bautista was a revelation in our regular 'Online Kumustahan' with the great people of Antipolo City this afternoon. Hearing him speak for the first time is one great opportunity for me to know the man better. He deserves to be in the Senate," Lacson said on his Twitter account.

Bautista is one of the senatorial bets of the Lacson-Sotto tandem who joined the regular "Online Kumustahan" in Antipolo City. He is running under the Nationalist People's Coalition which Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III chairs. Also joining yesterday’s virtual rally were Dr. Minguita Padilla and Paolo Capino under Partido Reporma, which Lacson chairs.

At the "Online Kumustahan," Bautista stressed that Lacson's advocacy to empower LGUs is at no time more needed than now, during the time of disasters and the Covid pandemic.

"Nasa isip niya yung kagalingan ng mga local governments. Alam na alam niya na ang mga lokal na pamahalaan ay may mga pangangailangan. Alam na alam niya na ang mga lokal na pamahalaan ay mga kagalingan naman. Yung mga tao diyan, yung mga nasa departments, magagaling yan, mga equipped yan. Yung mga mayor, vice mayor, konsehal, barangay officials ay may mga kanya-kanyang kakayahan nguni't may kakulangan sa pondo (Lacson believes in local governments and their ability to address their own needs and priorities, so long as they are properly equipped with enough funds)," Bautista, who served as Quezon City mayor, said at the "Online Kumustahan" with residents of Antipolo City's second district.

The former mayor said empowering LGUs will be especially useful now that the country is dealing not just with the Covid pandemic but also with disasters from typhoons.

Bautista, who studied at the University of the Philippines- NCPAG and National Defense College of the Philippines, also cited his experience as mayor where anticipation and planning are key.

"Sa pagsasaayos ng pondo o ang tinatawag na ni President Lacson na budget reforms ay bababa po yan hanggang sa barangay para yung pagtugon sa mga pangangailangan po talaga ng mga barangay, kung ano man yung nagiging suliranin nila sa kanilang mga lugar (With budget reforms, much-needed funds will go down to the local governments to address their needs and priorities)," he said.

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Lacson: 2022 Election Not About Personalities But Solutions

Lacson: 2022 Election Not About Personalities But Solutions

October 24, 2021 - The May 2022 general elections should not be about personalities but about finding solutions to the enormous problems facing the country, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said Saturday.

Lacson, addressing residents of Antipolo City's second district, said this would require competence, experience and integrity in public service.

"Ang eleksyon sa May 2022 is not about personalities or those running for different elective positions either sa national or local. It is more about knowing the enormous problems and offering solutions. It is more about competence, experience, and loyalty in public service," he said at his and Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III's "Online Kumustahan."

"Ayusin natin ang gobyerno para maayos ang buhay ng Pilipino. Hindi ito kaya gawin ng isa, dalawa o sampung Pilipino lang (We should fix the ills of government to improve the lives of Filipinos. This cannot be done just by one, two or 10 Filipinos)," he added.

He reiterated the people should not look at personalities or "gimmicks," but instead at the seriousness of the problems especially amid the pandemic.

Lacson, who is running under Partido Reporma, also reiterated that while the problems facing the country - including a huge debt, corruption, the effects of the Covid pandemic, and sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea - are due to bad government, the solution also lies in good government.

He said it is important to restore trust in the government - something he intends to do through policies, including disciplining the bureaucracy through leadership by example.

Also, he said the solutions to the problems must be based on data, science and research, even as the government must work more closely with the private sector and local government units instead of engaging in overregulation.

"Dapat maibalik ang tiwala sa liderato. At yan ang aming pagsisikapan (We should restore trust in our leadership. That is what the Lacson-Sotto tandem intends to do)," he said.

"The biggest problem of this country is government - bad government. Ang solution hindi lalayo sa problema. It lies in the face of the problem itself. Government ang solution, good government," he added.

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