No talks to tap Ping vs crime

MANILA, Philippines - While Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery Panfilo Lacson is welcome to make suggestions to stop kidnapping in the country, there are no plans to tap him as anti-crime czar, Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said over radio dzRB Lacson was busy with his job managing the rehabilitation of areas affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda. He said the government is committed to rebuilding communities ravaged by the deadly howler almost a year ago.

“That is the focus of Secretary Ping Lacson...rehabilitation and reconstruction,” Lacierda said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government under Secretary Manuel Roxas II and the Philippine National Police are being called to address rising cases of kidnapping and other crimes.

“I’m sure that his recommendations and suggestions will be well received by the PNP. So it should not be difficult for us,” Lacierda said.

“I’m sure Secretary Lacson will be more than glad to share his experience and insights in combating kidnapping. There is no problem with that,” he said.

“Cabinet secretaries talk to each other and I’m sure we can get insights and learn from the experiences of Secretary Lacson,” he pointed out.

Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III earlier suggested that Lacson head an anti-kidnapping task force to give more teeth to government’s drive against criminality.

Lacson headed the Philippine National Police from 1999 to 2001. He also headed the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force during the Estrada administration.

During the Ramos administration, he was chief of the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission’s Task Force Habagat, which reportedly scored heavily against kidnap-for-ransom groups.