Ping: I’m straight, without face enhancement

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson and Sen. Imee Marcos resumed their word war yesterday by trading barbs about sexuality and cosmetic enhancements.

Lacson opened his attendance at the Kapihan sa Senado forum by saying he is straight, rejecting what he deemed to be Marcos’ insinuation that he is gay. He also fired back at her comments on cosmetic procedures.

“She dared me to do a hair pulling match. Either Senator Imee thought my hair was a wig, or she was insinuating that I am gay. On both counts, I say nothing can be farthest from the truth,” Lacson said.

“May I also add – there is nothing fake in me. My teeth are not fake, they are all mine. There is nothing fake in any part of my face. Lalong di ako bakla,” Lacson added.

He emphasized he respects the LGBTQ+ community and considers himself part of the Senate’s “macho bloc,” alongside Senate President Vicente Sotto III and former soldier-senator Gringo Honasan.

“Please don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against homosexuals. It is their choice, and I respect them for that,” Lacson said.

“I may not be that handsome, but I still prefer to be a real man. And like Tito Sotto and Gringo Honasan, I am also macho. Lalaking-lalaki. Period,” he added.

The feud began last week when Marcos alleged in a Zoom briefing that Lacson blocked the minority from implicating big names in Senate Blue Ribbon committee flood control investigations, and claimed the 2026 national budget contains soft pork barrel items to target Vice President Sara Duterte.

Both Lacson and Sotto denied these claims.

When Lacson questioned Marcos’ “moral ascendancy” in criticizing the budget, Marcos deflected this by mocking him and hinting at his sexual orientation.

Responding to Lacson’s statements, Marcos yesterday denied calling Lacson gay when she said she would lose to a hair pulling match or “sabunutan” with him.

“I did not call him gay, but it seems he has a very shallow definition of what a ‘real man’ is,” Marcos said.

“There is nothing wrong with being gay, and with having any enhancements on your features. That is a person’s decision,” she added.