SEN PING LACSON: "PUBLIC SERVICE FIRST"

SEN PING LACSON: "PUBLIC SERVICE FIRST"

 

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Lacson: More 'Public Servant' Mentality Needed in Government

Lacson: More 'Public Servant' Mentality Needed in Government

December 4, 2021 - More "public servant" mindset, less "politician" mentality in government.

On this note, Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson stressed Saturday that those in government - especially the incoming batch of public servants - should think of the nation and the next generation of Filipinos.

"A politician thinks of himself and the next elections. Yan ang pulitiko, inisip ang sarili niya at ang susunod na eleksyon. Ang public servant, he thinks of the nation and the next generation - yan ang dapat pananaw nating lahat sa public service (A politician thinks of himself and the next elections. A public servant thinks of the nation and the next generation. We in public service should have that public servant mentality)," he said at an Online Kumustahan with tricycle operators and drivers in Quezon City.

It was this "public servant" mentality that led Lacson to call out questionable appropriations in the national budget during his 18 years in the Senate - even if it would cost him the friendship and support of political personalities.

During his 18 years of scrutinizing the budget, Lacson saved Filipinos at least P300 billion in public funds through budgetary amendments and cuts of lump-sum, redundant, wasteful or questionable appropriations.

His brand of public service earned him the degree of Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa, from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila in March 2019.

"Pera nating lahat ito, bakit di natin babantayan (These are our funds. Why should we not keep watch over them)?" Lacson said.

Meanwhile, Lacson recalled that during his previous life in law enforcement, he would rescue kidnap victims but decline the rewards from the grateful kin of those he rescued - as he did not want his men to act only on the cases of those who offer such rewards.

When he headed the Philippine National Police from 1999 to 2001, Lacson also implemented an 85-15 formula where 85 percent of PNP resources were downloaded to the field and only 15 percent allocated to headquarters.

Lacson, who is running for President under Partido Reporma, pointed out that he and his running mate Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, who is running for Vice President under the Nationalist People's Coalition, have shown that "public servant" mentality as well in their combined 83 years in public service, including 42 years as senators.

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Lacson Trusts Divine Plan in His Pursuits in Life

Lacson Trusts Divine Plan in His Pursuits in Life

December 5, 2021 - "May langit. Tandaan nyo may langit (There is a God, always believe there is a God)."

Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson reminded his fellow Caviteños of this when he visited his home province along with running mate Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III last Friday.

Lacson, who is running for President under Partido Reporma, recalled before local officials of Cavite, as well as members and officers of local Tricycle Operators and Drivers Associations (TODAs) in General Trias City, a childhood experience that reminded him of God.

He said that when he was five or six years old, while visiting his maternal grandparents in General Trias, he was swimming in a local river when he felt he was drowning, as he did not know how to swim then.

As he hovered between life and death, he said, he vividly saw and heard the angels singing in the blue sky - before his cousin saved his life by getting a tree branch for him to hang on to.

"Pag tingala ko sa langit—dahil lubog-lutang e, talagang lunod, hindi marunong lumangoy e — alam niyo ang nakita at narinig ko? Mga anghel na nagkakantahan (When I looked up to the sky while I was bobbing up and down in the water, not knowing how to swim, do you know what I saw and heard? Angels singing)," he said.

"Pero simula noon, ewan ko, parang milagro — natuto akong lumangoy. Pagbalik ko sa ilog, marunong na akong lumangoy, at hindi lang langoy—sumisisid pa (Since then, it was like a miracle because I learned to swim. When I returned to the river, I even knew how to dive)," he added.

Lacson also noted the unique trajectory of his public life where he was forced to resign from the Philippine National Police in 2001 - due to the events of EDSA II that ousted then President Joseph Estrada. At the time, he was not due to retire until his four-year term as Chief PNP would have ended on Nov. 16, 2003.

But this led him to the Senate, where he served as senator from 2001 to 2013, and from 2016 to 2022.

"Lahat dine-design sa itaas, dine-design ng Diyos. Kayo siguro may karanasan sa buhay na hindi nyo sukat akalain... May hindi natin pinlano pero nangyari (Everything is designed by the One Above, designed by God. I am sure you also have your own experiences where things did not go according to your plan)," he said.

Sotto, who is running for Vice President under the Nationalist People's Coalition, said what happened showed that God has plans for Lacson.

"Talagang ang Panginoon binigyan siya ng mas mahabang buhay (God indeed gave Ping a longer life)," he said, noting Lacson is now in a position to solve the nation's problems including peace and order, economy, agriculture, and the effects of the pandemic.

Lacson and Sotto received a warm welcome from residents. With them were senatorial bets Raffy Tulfo and Partido Reporma candidates Guillermo Eleazar and Minguita Padilla. They met with local officials including General Trias Mayor Antonio Ferrer and Rep. Luis Ferrer IV.

In Cavite, they also met with local officials and TODAs in Tanza, and paid a courtesy visit to Imus Bishop Rey Evangelista.

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Lacson: Happier Christmas for drivers with no ‘kotong’ cops

Lacson: Happier Christmas for drivers with no ‘kotong’ cops

Public utility vehicle drivers of all types can experience a merrier Christmas once “kotong” (bribe-seeking) cops are removed from the streets, as proven by Partido Reporma chairman and standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson himself.

Following his meeting with tricycle operators and drivers’ associations (TODA) in General Trias, Cavite on Friday, Lacson recounted how he was once invited to a Christmas party of jeepney drivers and operators in Tondo, Manila out of their gratitude for his clearing the streets of “kotong” cops when he was still chief of the Philippine National Police.

“So, siyempre, ako nakilala naman ako ‘nung ako ‘yung Chief PNP—pareho rin ni General Eleazar—nawala ‘yung kotong sa kalsada. So, apektado ‘yung buong jeepney drivers, bus drivers. Talagang hinigpitan namin,” the longtime public servant said in Partido Reporma’s “Online Kumustahan” at the General Trias Sports Park.

[As you know, I became well-known when I was Chief PNP – like General Eleazar – and we got rid of ‘kotong’ on the streets. All the jeepney drivers, bus drivers were most affected. We really tightened up on them (‘kotong’ cops).]

“Kasama ko noon si General Eleazar sa kampanya—nawala. Talagang natutuwa ‘yung mga tsuper. Katunayan, kausap ko ‘yung Pasang Masda saka ‘yung FEJODAP noong, I think, December 2000. Iniimbita ako mag-Christmas party ng mga tsuper sa Tondo,” the veteran lawmaker added, mentioning Partido Reporma senatorial candidate Guillermo Eleazar, who was then a police major, and big transport groups.

[I was with General Eleazar in that campaign – and we got rid of them (‘kotong’ cops). The drivers were really happy with us. In fact, I was talking to Pasang Masda and FEJODAP in, I think, December 2000. They were inviting me to a Christmas party for drivers in Tondo.]

“General, sabi sa akin, baka pwedeng dumalo kayo sa aming Christmas party… (naging) masayang Christmas party dahil nawala ‘yung kotong, nakatipid ‘yung aming mga tsuper. Alam niyo ba kung magkano? Aabot daw ng mga P300 a day ang kanilang na-sa-save dahil nawala ‘yung kotong sa kalsada,” Lacson narrated.

[General, they said, maybe you can come to our Christmas party?… It was a happy Christmas party because we got rid of ‘kotong’ and the drivers saved their earnings. You know how much? Their savings reached up to Php300 a day because ‘kotong’ on the streets disappeared.]

Lacson, a proud son of a jeepney driver himself, made his second stop in his native Cavite province on the “Online Kumustahan” series with running mate Vicente Sotto III, fellow former PNP chief Eleazar, and senatorial candidates Raffy Tulfo and Dr. Minguita Padilla.

Welcoming the Partido Reporma bets were General Trias Mayor Ony Ferrer, Cavite Rep. Jonjon Ferrer, and other local officials and party supporters.

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Lacson to senatorial bets: Carry the torch in scrutinizing national budget

Lacson to senatorial bets: Carry the torch in scrutinizing national budget

Carry the torch.

With these words, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson passed to his senatorial bets the torch of being the watchdog of the national budget – a title he earned during his Senate days.

Lacson said the task of making sure the public’s funds are used properly has never become more important as now, with a pandemic affecting the economy and a national debt threatening to reach P13.42 trillion by June 2022.

“I hope you carry the torch. Ang ating national budget, kaban ng bayan ito, lifeblood ng ating economy, lifeblood ng ating bansa, lifeblood ng bawa’t isa sa atin. Pag pinabayaan natin, hindi lang tayo – ang anak natin at maging apo natin, yan ang tatamaan. Ngayon pa lang dapat magising tayo sa katotohanan ang national budget na galing sa buwis (I hope you carry the torch. Our national budget is the nation’s lifeblood. If we allow the budget to fall prey to corruption and incompetence, it is not only us who will suffer but also our children and grandchildren. This early we should wake up to the problem because the budget is funded by our own taxes),” he told senatorial candidates Raffy Tulfo, Guillermo Eleazar and Minguita Padilla in General Trias City in Cavite.

“Hindi ko kayo dini-discourage. Mas mabuti manalo kayo para ituloy nyo (I am not discouraging you but it is better that you win so you can carry on my fight),” he added.

During his terms as senator from 2001-2013 and 2016-2022, Lacson has been an eagle-eyed watchdog of the budget, flagging questionable appropriations and making sure they are realigned to crucial programs, activities and projects.

Eleazar and Padilla, like Lacson, are running under Partido Reporma while Tulfo is a guest candidate of the Lacson-Sotto tandem.

They accompanied him in his visit to Cavite along with Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, who is running for Vice President under the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

Lacson lamented that with the national debt threatening to reach P13.42 trillion by next June, each of the country’s 111 million Filipinos – even newborns – now owes P121,000.

“Buti kung ginawa nating investment, invest sa infrastructure, health, at livelihood (It would have been better if we wisely invested the funds from our national debt on infrastructure, health and livelihoods),” Lacson said.

The Lacson-Sotto tandem and the senatorial candidates received a warm welcome from residents here and in Tanza, Cavite.

They met with local officials and with members of local Tricycle Operators and Drivers Associations (TODAs).

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Lacson-Sotto duo vows to enlist all sectors in nat'l budget process

Lacson-Sotto duo vows to enlist all sectors in nat'l budget process

The Senator Panfilo Lacson-Senate President Vicente Sotto III tandem vowed Saturday to reform the national budget process by involving all sectors and local government units (LGUs) in the allocations preparation.

In a press conference, Lacson, who is seeking the presidency, said the involvement of the sectors is part of their envisioned Budget Reform for Village Empowerment (BRAVE) program.

BRAVE, Lacson pointed out, aims to scrub off the "culture of mendicancy" during the budget season, when officials from LGUs have to appeal to the Senate for their allocation.

"Laging inuulit ni Senate President, kaya hindi mawala-wala 'yung 'culture of mendicancy,' 'yung dole-out mentality kasi pagdating ng budget season tila ba namamalimos lahat ng governors, mayors, councilors, lahat nakapila, kung hindi man sa House of Representatives, pati sa Senate," Lacson said.

(Senate President Sotto keeps on emphasizing that the cause of the "culture of mendicancy" or the dole-out mentality could not be erased because during the budget season  governors, mayors, and councilors seem to be falling in line begging in the House of Representatives, if not in the Senate for their allocations.)

Lacson argued that LGUs, civic society, and non-government organizations should be involved in the budget planning before projects could be submitted for the National Expenditure Program.

"Kasi 'yan naman talaga 'yung dapat mangyari na holistic 'yung pagpaplano na involved lahat ng sectors sa isang LGU" (This should be the case, and the planning should be holistic where all sectors of the LGUs are involved), Lacson said. 

According to him, there will be four stages of the BRAVE program -- budget planning, budget authorization, budget implementation, and accountability.

"Ang tanong dapat sa Barangay Development Council paakyat, 'Ano ang kailangan niyo?' Sasabihin nila sa national government ang mga kailangan nila. Hindi 'yung nangyayari ng napakatagal nang panahon ang national government sinasabi sa mga local at sa ibaba 'Ito ang kailangan niyo, ito ang puwede niyong gastusin,'" said Sotto, Lacson's running mate.

[The question that should be asked from the Barangay Development Council all the way up is 'What do you need?' Then they will inform the national government of their needs, not the other way around.]

Public servant mindset

In an article posted on his personal website Lacson took a dig at the "pulitiko" or politician mindset in governance.

He said that the "public servant mindset" should prevail in government.

"A politician thinks of himself and the next elections. 'Yan ang pulitiko, inisip ang sarili niya at ang susunod na eleksyon," he said.

"Ang public servant thinks of the nation and the next generation - yan ang dapat pananaw nating lahat sa public service (A politician thinks of himself and the next elections. A public servant thinks of the nation and the next generation," he pointed out. 

Lacson will run under the Demokratikong Reporma Party (Reporma), which installed him as their chairman in July.

Meanwhile, Sotto will run under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) where he sits as chairman.

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LACSON-SOTTO SUPPORTERS IN MAGSAYSAY, OCCIDENTAL MINDORO

 LACSON-SOTTO SUPPORTERS IN MAGSAYSAY, OCCIDENTAL MINDORO

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League of Concerned Society of the Nation

League of Concerned Society of the Nation

"Kung kaya ng Singapore, kaya din natin ito! Ang lider na may Kakayahan, Katapatan, Katapangan na tutulong sa atin upang itaas ang antas ng ating pamumuhay!"

(Please Watch and Share)

👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇

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LACSON-SOTTO TANDEM VISITS BISHOP REY EVANGELISTA, IMUS BISHOP IN CAVITE

LACSON-SOTTO TANDEM VISITS BISHOP REY EVANGELISTA, IMUS BISHOP IN CAVITE

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LACSON-SOTTO SUPPORTERS TOGETHER WITH CAMPAIGN LEADERS AND TRAFFIC ENFORCERS IN OCCIDENTAL MINDORO

LACSON-SOTTO SUPPORTERS TOGETHER WITH CAMPAIGN LEADERS AND TRAFFIC ENFORCERS IN OCCIDENTAL MINDORO

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LACSON-SOTTO SUPPORTERS TOGETHER WITH BRGY CPT DANILO CENTENO OF CAMINAWIT, SAN JOSE, OCCIDENTAL MINDORO

LACSON-SOTTO SUPPORTERS TOGETHER WITH BRGY CPT DANILO CENTENO OF CAMINAWIT, SAN JOSE, OCCIDENTAL MINDORO

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