Lacson almost lynched by foes

Resigned Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Panfilo Lacson narrowly escaped being lynched by his enemies in the police organization when their paths accidentally crossed in Pasig City Saturday night.

Lacson was about to get out of an elevator at the Linden Suites on San Miguel Avenue in Pasig, where newly installed President Arroyo is staying, when he was spotted by one of his most bitter enemies, Superintendent Eduardo Matillano.

Lacson had just handed in his formal resignation to Arroyo.

Although Matillano and Lacson were classmates at the elite Philippine Military Academy, they became enemies due to professional rivalry.

Matillano was among a number of police officials sacked by Lacson for various reasons.

Matillano said he particularly got mad at Lacson the other night when the latter ignored him.

"I called his attention, but he turned his back on me. It was an insult," Matillano said.

Lacson stepped back into the elevator, and tried to close it, but Matillano managed to get to him first and held him by the neck.

Other fellow PMAers, also nursing old grudges against Lacson, joined the fray.

Col. Billy Bibit suddenly sprung from behind Matillano and held Lacson by his jacket.

The timely arrival of former Defense Secretary Renato de Villa prevented the situation from getting any worse.

Also at the place when the incident occurred were Lacson’s immediate predecessor, Director General Roberto Lastimoso, and retired Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Garcia.

A handful of senior police officials had just left Linden Suites when tempers flared. Among them were Superintendent Reynaldo Berroya and Chief Superintendents Orville Gabuna, Diony Ventura and Dictador Alqueza (retired).

The camaraderie between Lacson and Matillano soured when the latter, then head of the defunct Presidential Anti-Crime Commission Task Force Amihan, led a raiding team that swooped down on the offices of the similarly defunct Special Project Alpha (SPA) headed by Lacson at the height of the campaign for the 1998 national elections.

Matillano’s group seized several bugging equipment and other spying devices from the SPA offices located at the Kiangan Hall in Camp Crame.

When Lacson took over Lastimoso’s post after Estrada’s first police chief was implicated as an alleged coddler of drug lords, Lacson dismissed Matillano for alleged absence without official leave.

On the other hand, Lacson ordered the arrest and detention of Alqueza and Berroya for alleged complicity in the kidnapping of Taiwanese businessman Jack Chou.

However, the Supreme Court acquitted the two police officials.

Lastimoso also locked horns with Lacson as they swapped accusations of complicity in illegal drug trafficking and other anomalies.

Lacson, who is set to retire this year, has told reporters he plans to spend the rest of his life in quietude with his family.

"All I want after my retirement is to peacefully go back to private life," he said.

But some of his foes have other plans for him - that he face criminal prosecution for his sins against them.

One of his enemies, who requested anonymity, said Lacson and his cabal should be made to account for their human rights violations against fellow policemen and private individuals committed during the Estrada administration.

Lacson served as PNP chief for one year and two months, and was forced to resign on Saturday after Camp Crame was taken over by forces who had withdrawn their support for Estrada.

Arroyo has designated one of Lacson’s deputies, Leandro Mendoza, as acting PNP chief.