Lacson to reject support of gambling lords

Former Philippine National Police chief Director General Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, senatorial candidate of Laban, said yesterday that he would neither court nor accept support from suspected drug and jueteng lords.

At a press conference at the Seafood Wharf at Rizal Park, Lacson reiterated the political dictum that "politics is addition" and anybody who would offer to help his campaign for the Senate could help.

He, however, stressed that accepting contributions or assistance from persons he suspected as drug lords or jueteng operators would be out of the question.

"We would rather operate on a shoestring budget rather than accept dirty money for the campaign," he said.

Lacson said that he received numerous tempting financial offers when he was still PNP chief but he rejected them all.

"One said all I had to do was open a bank account under a fictitious name and the funds will just come in, but I refused," he said.

At the same time, he expressed confidence that he would win in the May senatorial elections.

"I had gone to a number of places. If the reception accorded me was any indication of my winnability, I am confident that I would win a seat in the May elections," he said.

He is one of those closely identified with deposed President Estrada. He, however, said that this would not be a negative factor in his campaign. He said that in the places he had gone to, especially in the rural areas, and in Baclaran and Divisoria in Metro Manila, Estrada remains a popular figure.

"I will campaign on a peace and order platform. I had been in the service for 20 years, and I believe I could still contribute more," he added.

He lamented reports on the return of mulcting policemen and of bank robberies and kidnapping since the installation of the new administration. He said that the reforms he had introduced at the PNP were "abruptly stopped."

"The scalawags who were reformed during my time are now backsliding reportedly because of a misunderstanding of the political system," Lacson said.

He said that when he took over the PNP, the organization had an acceptance rating of minus 13 percent.

"When I left, the PNP had a rating of plus 58 percent," Lacson added – Efren Danao