📷: Ping Lacson | FB
Ginagamit umano ang isang lumang larawan na nagpapakita kay Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson kasama ang mag-asawang Discaya upang siraan ang kanyang pamumuno sa imbestigasyon ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee kaugnay ng mga iregularidad sa mga flood control project.
Ayon kay Lacson, na siya ring namumuno sa Blue Ribbon Committee, ang naturang larawan ay kuha pa noong panahon ng kampanya noong 2025, kaugnay ng isang imbitasyon sa political rally na kanyang tinanggihan.
“The fact that it is being circulated only means that it intended to besmirch my reputation and credibility in chairing the Blue Ribbon Committee on the flood control project anomalies,” ani Lacson.
Dagdag pa niya, “I did not know the Discayas and that was the first and only time outside of the Blue Ribbon committee hearings that I met them. That meeting took around 15 to 20 minutes but not before that group photo was taken.”
Ikinuwento rin ni Lacson na dinala ng campaign supporter mula Davao City na si Fred Villaroman ang mag-asawang Discaya sa kanyang opisina sa Taguig City.
Ang ama ni Villaroman, si yumaong P/Brig. Gen. Francisco Villaroman, ay dating nagsilbi sa ilalim ni Lacson sa Philippine National Police at naging hepe ng security detail ni noo’y Mayor Rodrigo Duterte hanggang 2016.
Sa nasabing pulong, inimbitahan si Lacson na dumalo sa isang political rally ng party-list group na Pinoy Ako, kung saan tumatakbo bilang nominee ang anak ng mga Discaya. Dumalo rin sa pulong sina Cezarah at Pacifico Discaya II.
“Anyway, I begged off – first, out of respect for my friend Senate President Tito Sotto whose nephew, Mayor Vico Sotto was running against Mrs. Discaya for the mayorship of Pasig City; and second, there were other party-list groups who were including my name in their sample ballots and I thought it was not a smart political decision to join a rally of any party-list group,” paliwanag ni Lacson.
Binigyang-diin din niya na walang naging usapan ukol sa campaign contribution. “I did not receive, nor did the Discayas offer any campaign contribution in whatever form,” aniya.
“I hope this clarifies whatever insinuations are being attached to this said photograph,” pagtatapos ni Lacson. (ROSE NOVENARIO)