[DAY 2] The 10th Arangkada Philippines Forum | Pathways to a Better Future

[DAY 2] The 10th Arangkada Philippines Forum | Pathways to a Better Future

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Lacson: PH faces triple whammy from China

 Lacson: PH faces triple whammy from China

The Philippine faces threats on three fronts—national security, food security and economic security—with China’s continued encroachment into the country’s territorial waters in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said on Monday.

Lacson, chair of the Senate committee on national defense and security, also called on the government to take “more proactive efforts” to urge the international community to exert pressure on China to comply with the arbitral ruling favoring the Philippines.

“More often than not, we only think of national security when we hear of China’s encroachment into our territorial waters. It’s actually much more than that … It has a great effect not only on our national security because that much is obvious—but our food security and our economic security are greatly affected,” Lacson said.

Lacson raised the issue during Monday’s hearing of the Senate committee on foreign relations, which tackled two bills that seek to establish the country’s maritime zones.

The committee also discussed Lacson’s proposed Senate Resolution No. 954, which sought to condemn China’s intrusion into the Philippines’ territory and exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea.

According to Lacson, fish production in the Philippines amounted to 4.36 million tons valued at P265 billion in 2018, while 1.9 million people depended on fishing for their livelihood.

The WPS region, Lacson said, supplied 27 percent of the country’s total fisheries production, with Scarborough Shoal producing around 15 to 20 metric tons of fish per year.

The Kalayaan Island Group, on the other hand, produces 62,000 to 91,000 metric tons of fish per square kilometers, feeding up to 2.3 million Filipinos per year, according to the senator.

Lacson said China’s incursions had also kept Filipinos from fully harnessing the energy resources in the WPS which, he said, was a potential source of natural gas and other resources.

The production of Malampaya natural gas field amounts to 1.94 million standard cubic feet of gas and 75.04 million barrels of associate condensate, providing some 25.8 percent of the power generated in Luzon from 2002 to 2017, the senator said.

Rich offshore hydrocarbon sources in the region have yet to be tapped, he said.

Lacson cited a 2013 US geological survey showing some 2.5 billion barrels of oil and 25.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the Spratlys.

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Lacson-Sotto “Online Kumustahan” iikot sa Visayas

 Lacson-Sotto “Online Kumustahan” iikot sa Visayas

Palalakasin nina Partido Reporma chairman at standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson at running mate niya na si Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III ang mga “Online Kumustahan” sa Visayas na layuning konsultahin ang mga komunidad at lokal na lider sa kanilang mga pangunahing pangangailangan at prayoridad.

Kasabay nito, inaaasahang pasisinayaan nina Lacson at Sotto ang headquarters ng Partido Reporma sa Cebu City sa Biyernes (Disyembre 10) at sa Dumaguete, Negros Oriental sa Sabado (Disyembre 11).

Kukumpleto sa Visayas tour ng dalawang batikang public servant ang pakikipagpulong nila sa iba’t ibang sektor sa Northern Samar sa Linggo (Disyembre 12).

Ang lahat ng mga event na ito ay mapapanood nang live sa Zoom at official social media account ni Lacson.

Nakikita na ang malakas na suporta sa dalawang batikang mambabatas, lalo kay Sotto na nagmula sa Cebu. Ang kanyang lolo na si Vicente Sotto ay naging kongresista sa probinsya bago maupo sa Senado noong 1950s.

Makakasama rin sa “Online Kumustahan” ang mga senatorial candidate ng tambalang Lacson-Sotto, kabilang si dating police chief Guillermo Eleazar, health advocate Dr. Minguita Padilla, dating congressman Monsour Del Rosario at ang mga guest senatorial bet na si dating Cabinet member Manny Piñol at brodkaster na si Raffy Tulfo.

Limitadong bilang lamang ang maaaring dumalo sa mga venue ng pagtitipon bilang mahigpit na pagsunod sa mga health protocol ng pamahalaan para makaiwas sa COVID-19.

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On Reported Poll-Rigging Scams

 On Reported Poll-Rigging Scams

December 7, 2021 - It is true that there are con artists claiming they can manipulate the election system for a fee. Past automated elections have created this impression.

Sad to say, the so-called "Meet-me Room" that was put in place during the past two or three national elections - which some sectors fear could be a venue where poll results could be tinkered with - cast doubt on the integrity of the automated elections.

While it goes without saying that candidates should not fall for this scam, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) should face the challenge through utmost transparency.

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Mag-ingat sa kumakalat na Ping ayuda scam

Mag-ingat sa kumakalat na Ping ayuda scam

Para sa Seguridad ng nagmamay-ari ng Cellphone na ito, tinatago namin ang kanyang tunay na pangalan at ito ay kanyang na ipadala o ni-reply sa SCAMMER!

Pinag-iingat ang publiko sa kumakalat na text message na ginagamit ang pangalan ni Partido Reporma chairman at standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson na nag-aalok diumano ng ayuda kapalit ng kanilang personal na impormasyon.

“This is from Ping Lacson Family. Can you please claim your Ayuda’s from our Fam.,” saad sa text message ng “smishing” scammer na kumakalat sa social media.

Para makuha umano ang ayuda, kailangang ipadala ang kumpletong pangalan at tirahan ng nakatanggap ng text. Pero ayon sa biktima ng scam, matapos niyang ibigay ang kanyang personal na impormasyon ay hindi na siya nakatanggap ng tugon mula sa nagpadala ng mensahe.

Hinihikayat ng Partido Reporma ang publiko na huwag tumugon sa kahina-hinalang mensahe na ito sa text man o sa mga messaging app dahil kailanman ay hindi ito pinahintulutan ni Lacson.

Una nang nanawagan ang batikang mambabatas at dating hepe ng kapulisan sa National Privacy Commission upang imbestigahan ang online vote-buying, gayundin ang fake news kaugnay sa May 9, 2022 elections. Aniya, hindi lang ito banta sa halalan ngunit maging sa ating demokrasya.

Ang smishing o SMS phishing ay panloloko na isinasagawa sa pamamagitan ng pagpapadala ng text na mula umano sa isang kompanya o sikat na personalidad para makakuha ng personal na impormasyon tulad ng password, credit card number o tirahan.

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Beware of ‘smishing’ scammers using Lacson’s name, ‘ayuda’ as bait—Partido Reporma

Beware of ‘smishing’ scammers using Lacson’s name, ‘ayuda’ as bait—Partido Reporma

Partido Reporma chairman and standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has not been spared from the rash of “smishing” scammers or those using text messaging to extract personal information for nefarious ends.

In a statement, Partido Reporma urged the public not to respond to such dubious messages, whether through SMS (short messaging service) or messaging apps, as Lacson – a former national police chief – would never authorize or condone such practice.

The longtime public servant has also called on the National Privacy Commission to look more closely into attempts at digital vote-buying in the run-up to the May 9, 2022 elections, calling it a threat not just to the electoral system but to democracy itself.

In a picture uploaded on social media over the weekend, a victim of the scam showed a screenshot of a message from a person who introduced himself as a member of Lacson’s family.

The message sender said he was sending “ayuda” (cash aid) and the person targeted only needed to send his personal information to receive the supposed funding.

“This is from Ping Lacson Family. Can you please claim your Ayuda’s from our Fam?,” the scammer’s text message read.

“Note: If you are interested to get that pls. reply your real name and followed by your complete address. Thank You,” the message added.

Based on the screen shot, after the victim sent his personal information, the scammer no longer replied.

Smishing or SMS phishing is the fraudulent practice of sending text messages, purporting to be from reputable companies or persons, to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords or credit card numbers, or in this case home addresses.

In the Philippines, authorities have listed phishing as the top cybercrime for years now. Smishing attacks are delivered by both traditional text messaging and non-SMS messaging apps. These attacks spread fast and are often unnoticeable due to their deceptive nature.

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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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Ping Lacson: Bullying ng China, Tinamaan ang National, Food at Economic Security Natin

Ping Lacson: Bullying ng China, Tinamaan ang National, Food at Economic Security Natin

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Lacson: 3 Aspects of PH Security Hit by China's Continued 'Bullying' in WPS

 Lacson: 3 Aspects of PH Security Hit by China's Continued 'Bullying' in WPS

December 6, 2021 - Not one or two, but three: national security, food security, and economic security.

These are the aspects of Philippine security that continue to be hit by China's continued encroachment into our territorial waters in the West Philippine Sea, Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson said Monday.

"More often than not, we only think of national security when we hear of China’s encroachment into our territorial waters. It’s actually much more than that... It has a great effect not only on our national security because that much is obvious - but our food security and our economic security are greatly affected," Lacson said at the hearing on proposed legislation on the WPS issue.

Lacson, who chairs the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, also called for more proactive efforts by the Philippines to urge the international community to exert pressure on China to comply with the arbitral ruling favoring the Philippines.

He likewise pushed anew for maintaining a balance of power in the region with the Philippines' like-minded and militarily capable allies such as the United States, Australia and European Union.

"One course of action we can take is to appeal to the international community to exert whatever political pressure they can have on China to comply with the ruling. It cannot be sought by war especially in this day and age of modern technological warfare where nobody wins," he said.

Among the items discussed in Monday's hearing were Lacson's Senate Resolution 954 condemning China's intrusion into the Philippines' territory and exclusive economic zone in the WPS; and Senate Bill 2289 which he co-authored with Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, defining the Philippines' maritime areas.

Lacson noted fish production in the Philippines amounted to 4.36 million tons valued at P265 billion in 2018, while 1.9 million fisherfolk depended on fishing for their livelihood. Fishing accounted for P181.1 billion, or 29.1 percent of the ocean-based activities Gross Value Added in 2018.

The WPS region cumulatively supplied 27 percent of the Philippines' total marine capture fisheries production, with Scarborough Shoal producing around 15 to 20 metric tons of fish produced per year. The Kalayaan Island Group can produce 62,000 to 91,000 metric tons of fish per square kilometers, accounting for the needs of up to 2.3 million Filipinos per year.

On the other hand, Lacson said the incursions have also kept us from fully harnessing our energy resources in the WPS, particularly the Philippine Rise that is a potential source of natural gas and other resources such as heavy metals and metallic minerals.

This has yet to account for the ongoing contribution of offshore hydrocarbon sources to energy security, with the largest oil production from Galoc Field off Palawan - a total oil production of 21.15 million barrels as of June 30, 2018.

Meanwhile, the largest gas production of Malampaya amounts to 1.94 million standard cubic feet of gas and 75.04 million barrels of associate condensate, provided some 25.8 percent of the total power generated in Luzon from 2002 to 2017.

Also, Lacson cited a US geological survey in 2013 showing there are some 2.5 billion barrels of oil and 25.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in undiscovered resources in the Spratly Islands, while hydrocarbon reserves in Reed Bank is estimated at 55.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 5.4 billion barrels of oil. The Philippine Department of Energy estimated 165 million barrels of oil and 3.5 trillion cubic feet of gas in Recto Bank.

"So these are the big effects not only on our national security but our food security and our economic security are also greatly affected," he said.

Meanwhile, Lacson manifested that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee invite to the next hearing Western Command head Vice Admiral Ramil Roberto Enriquez and Coast Guard commandant Vice Admiral Leopoldo Larroya, among others, as they will be the ones to enforce relevant legislation on the WPS.

He also manifested that the panel invite for its next hearing other personalities such as the captain of the Gem-Ver who have a personal view of problems such as ramming by Chinese vessels, "to share with us their actual experience." Gem-Ver 1, a 14-ton fishing boat from San Jose, Occidental Mindoro province, sank after it was rammed by the Chinese trawler while anchored at Recto (Reed) Bank shortly before midnight on June 9, 2019.

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Lacson Bares Ultimate Test of Character for Leader

 Lacson Bares Ultimate Test of Character for Leader

December 6, 2021 - One who passes the test of money and power is fit to be the leader the Filipino people need.

Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson thus stressed Monday the need for the next leader to uphold integrity by practicing what he preaches.

"The ultimate test of a person’s character: give him power and offer him money. If he passes this test, he is the 'leader we need,'" he said on his Twitter account.

During his law enforcement career, Lacson had passed such tests of money and power by consistently declining rewards from grateful kins of kidnap victims he rescued while he was with the Philippine Constabulary. The victims he rescued included Robina Gokongwei and a then nine-year-old boy from a prominent Cebu family.

When he was assigned to head the Philippine National Police in Laguna in 1992, Lacson also refused offers of monthly hush money, ranging from P1.2 million to P1.8 million - in exchange for allowing illegal gambling operations to operate.

He even dared his men to tie him to the provincial command's flagpole and shoot him. "Nariyan ang flagpole. Itali nyo ako riyan at barilin nyo ako (There's the flagpole. Tie me there and shoot me)," he recalled telling them.

Not only did Lacson "win" that dare - he went on to serve as PNP chief from 1999 to 2001 where he cracked down on "kotong" (extorting) cops and strongly implemented his "no-take" policy.

Also, he refused and invoked upon the members of his directorial staff to shun offers of money for the procurement of PNP supplies from contractors doing business with the PNP. He likewise refused to avail of the P100-million-a-year so-called “commander’s reserve" (a.k.a. discretionary fund) of the Chief, PNP.

These, combined with his leadership by example as top cop, earned the PNP the trust of the public - with a high 64-percent approval rating for the PNP and a 73-percent approval rating for Lacson as its chief.

As senator, Lacson - a staunch crusader against corruption - also refused not just his P200-million-a-year pork barrel allocations, but also lobby or "goodwill" money from groups seeking favorable legislation.

Lacson is running for President under Partido Reporma.

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LACSON-SOTTO HEADLINES NGAYON DISYEMBRE 6, 2021

 LACSON-SOTTO HEADLINES NGAYON DISYEMBRE 6, 2021

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