The Lies, the Facts, and the Truth |
FACT: The PACC under the Ramos administration, organized a composite team to neutralize the crime syndicates responsible for the series of bank robberies and kidnapping in Metro Manila. FACT: C/Supt. Jewel Canson, as chief of the PNP National Capital Region Office, was the commanding officer of the composite team. One of its primary targets was the notorious Kuratong Baleleng gang robbed banks and killed innocent victims along the way. It was he who directed the whole operation, and did not report to C/Supt. Lacson. FACT: Task Force Habagat (under PACC), led by C/Supt. Lacson, was one of the four units that formed the composite team led by C/Supt. Canson. The other command units in the team were the CIS, National Capitol Region, Central Police District and the Traffic Management Command. FACT: C/Supt. Lacson was initially charged as an "accessory" for signing the operations terminal report together with P/Sr. Supt. Fernando Zubia of the Traffic Management Group, C/Supt Romeo Acop of the CIS. THE TRUTH: C/Supt. Lacson did not lead the operations vs. Kuratong Baleleng. 1. While C/Supt. Canzon already owned full responsibility for the operations against KB during the senate investigation, C/Supt. Lacson, whose only direct involvement in the operations was to sign the terminal report together with the other heads of the units that composed the task force. 2. Lacson was in the barracks on the night of the shoot-out on May 18, 1995 and was not involved in the implementation of operational plans of the task force. Yet, the senator is being charged as principal under the same circumstances. 3. Contrary to the government prosecutors' claim, the case was
4. The April 1, 2003 Supreme Court decision (by 10-4 vote) ordering the revival of the case was a surprise and complete reversal of its May 28, 2002 (13-0 vote) directing the termination of the case. Note: The latest decision was penned and concurred with by President Arroyo's appointed justices. 5. The Arroyo administration wants the senator arraigned as a principal suspect so he will not be allowed to post bail. This will prevent him from physically campaigning for 2004 elections. 6. The task force members were initially given commendations as a reward for their successful operation against the dreaded gang members. These were promptly withdrawn when the families of the gang members protested and witnesses (who later admitted they did not actually see the shooting) claimed it was a "rub-out". Today, the team members continue to suffer even after they have been cleared of any wrongdoing simply because the government keeps on reviving the case, targeting Senator Lacson. 7. The Arroyo government is sending the wrong signal in its campaign on peace and order by continuously "re-investigating" the alleged "rub-out" of the notorious gang but does nothing about the plight of the KB's victims and the arrest of other wanted KB members who are now believed to be behind the series of bank robberies and assassinations today.
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FACT: The name of Senator Lacson was never listed in the "Order of Battle" issued by the Narcotics Command - the latest was last July 2002 - as among those suspected or placed under surveillance for activities in drug trafficking. FACT: In his farewell address last May 5, 2003, Mr. Jeffrey Wendling of the US Drug Enforcement Agency (US-DEA) assigned to the US Embassy, personally cited the cooperation of then PAOCTF head and PNP Chief Panfilo Lacson in the war against foreign and domestic drug syndicates. He made the testimonial in the presence of Col. Victor Corpus, P/Dirs. Edgardo Aglipay, Reynaldo Velasco, Avelino Razon and NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco. FACT: PNP Chief Ping Lacson's twin strategy approach - the market constriction and supply reduction - is now being adopted by the Arroyo government and also presently being duplicated in other countries with the endorsement of the US-DEA. FACT: In an interview with Inq7 in 2001, Col. Corpus said he deliberately planned to link Senator Lacson with the Chinese Triad's drug trafficking activities, not through the judicial system but through the senate hearing. FACT: The Hong Kong Police officially refuted Rosebud's claim pointing to the existence and shipment of 2,000 kilograms of shabu (worth $1.8 billion) originating from Hong Kong which she said were confiscated and kept by C/Supt Lacson and P/Insp. John Campos. FACT: Rosebud never worked with C/Supt. Lacson's Task Force Habagat and PAOCTF at anytime in the past. Therefore, she was not privy to either Habagat's or PAOCTF's past police operations. She only participated in NarcGroup's operations, particularly in the execution of "Operation Athena" and "Cyclops" (under the supervision of C/Supt. Rey Acop). FACT: Contrary to the claim of Rosebud, PAOCTF was never involved in the planning and execution of both NarcGroup's Operation "Athena" and "Cyclops". PNP records show that C/Supt. Rey Acop and C/Insp. John Campos, as members of NarcGroup, operated independently of PAOCTF. FACT: Senator Lacson's father had always been a jeepney driver and was never employed as a family or company driver of the Remullas whom Rosebud accused of being involved in drug trafficking. FACT: Contrary to Rosebud's claim, Senator Lacson did not help two Chinese drug lords, Chan Que and Sen Lao Phie who were arrested in 1999, to escape from prison. The two are in Occidental Mindoro still serving jail terms. FACT: Last March 24, 2003, "Ador" Mawanay recanted his statements and admitted that all his declarations about Senator Lacson's alleged bank accounts were all fictitious. In his new affidavit, he identified First Gentleman Mike Arroyo as the mastermind in the attempt to frame up the senator. FACT: The Ombudsman ruled that Senator Lacson was not guilty of wrong-doing as alleged by Rosebud in her complaint against Senator Lacson. Rosebud was eventually issued a court injunction for attempting to file the same complaint with the DOJ and the regional trial courts. FACT: To boost the government's campaign against drug trafficking, Senator Lacson authored the Anti-Money Laundering Act. During the deliberation on the bill, Senator Lacson was the lone proponent of P500,000 threshold; the other senators proposed P2,000,000. THE TRUTH: Senator Lacson is not, and was never involved in narco-politics.
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FACT: Last March 24, 2003, "Ador" Mawanay signed an affidavit in perpetuity admitting that the list of "bank accounts" that he submitted to the senate where the senator allegedly deposited some $700 million was fictitious. FACT: The FBI officially denied that it had any knowledge of Senator Lacson's million dollar deposits in US banks except the three bank accounts of Mrs. Alice Lacson which Senator Lacson identified early on. The FBI said the bank accounts had insignificant deposits. FACT: The Citibank regional office in Singapore confirmed on August 9, 2001 that the listed bank accounts (allegedly owned by Senator Lacson) submitted by "Ador" Mawanay did not exist. FACT: C/Supt. Lacson was on a "floating status" and PAOCTF was still not organized at the time Rosebud claimed C/Supt. Lacson was seen dividing the profits from the sale of confiscated shabu among his men. FACT: Per his last statement of assets and liabilities, Senator Lacson's assets total only P23,969,126. These represent value of the family's home in BF Homes, cars and income from modest investments in restaurant, amusement and real estate businesses of friends. FACT: No kidnap victim in the country has ever claimed or hinted that Senator Lacson demanded or received any reward or ransom for a successful rescue in the past. FACT: Senator Lacson gave Col. Corpus a special power of attorney giving him the right to access any of the bank accounts listed by "Ador" Mawanay and to withdraw the deposits in those accounts. THE TRUTH: Senator Lacson never had the millions of dollars that Corpus, Berroya, "Ador", Rosebud and Wycoco alleged during the senate investigation. And not a single rescued kidnap victim has ever accused him of demanding and receiving ransom.
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FACT: Shortly after his appointment as PNP Chief in November 1999, D/Gen Lacson stopped his predecessors' practice of paying monthly `payolas' to some media personalities amounting to P1.7 million. In an INQ7 interview in 2001, he identified Mr. Ramon Tulfo as one of the regular beneficiaries with a monthly allowance of P250,000. FACT: PNP Chief Lacson constantly raided jueteng and smuggling operations. Gov. Chavit Singson admitted this during the senate impeachment hearings. FACT: Only PNP chief Lacson succeeded in eliminating `kotong' among policemen and stopped their illegal practice of using carnapped vehicles for personal use.,p> FACT: Senator Lacson is known in PNP circles as the only PNP officer who refused jueteng payola throughout his police career. This is a fact that Mr. Tulfo grudgingly admitted in the past. FACT: Senator Lacson is the only legislator who charged two of his own senate staff before the Ombudsman when they violated his "No-Take Policy" in the implementation of his "pork barrel projects". FACT: Senator Lacson is the only senator who filed graft charges against a town mayor in Batangas, a major political supporter in the last senatorial elections, and several DPWH officials for overpricing costs of the infrastructure project funded by the senator's pork barrel allocation. FACT: Senator Lacson waived his 2003 "pork barrel" funds after delivering a privilege speech last March 11, 2003, denouncing the rampant corruption in the implementation of projects funded by the pork barrel. No other senator has done this. THE TRUTH: Senator Lacson was never charged in court for corruption, estafa and bribery through out his entire government career.
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FACT: P/Supt. John Campos was a be-medaled outstanding police officer who was cited by both the RP and US governments for his integrity, accomplishments and professionalism. FACT: The police service record of P/Supt. Campos showed that he was never assigned with PAOCTF. It was P/Supt Campos who disputed Rosebud's allegations about Senator Lacson during the senate hearings. He denied Rosebud's account of "Operation Athena II" (allegedly involving Senator Lacson) since it was non-existent. FACT: P/Insp. Campos was attending the Public Safety Officers' Senior Executive Course in July 1998 after completing his Master in Public Safety Administration during the period that Rosebud claimed he was seen dividing the loot with C/Supt. Lacson. FACT: FACT: The only time Sr./Supt. Lacson and P/Insp. Campos and actively collaborated was when they stood as principal witnesses against Sr. Supt. Reynaldo Berroya in the kidnapping of suspected Taiwanese drug lord Jack Chow. For their testimonies, Mr. Berroya was sent to jail. FACT: P/Supt. Campos' friends and relatives denied that he ever contemplated reconciling with Rosebud. Rosebud was banned by the Campos' family during the funeral services for him. It was Senator Lacson who was welcomed. THE TRUTH: Senator Lacson did not and could not have killed P/ Supt. John Campos.
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FACT: The daughter of Mr. Bubby Dacer flatly and publicly denied speculations that there ever was a heated argument between her father and President Estrada in Malacanang, disputing the claim that Erap, out of anger, ordered PNP Chief Lacson to eliminate her father. FACT: Mr. Dacer was a public relations practitioner, not a journalist, known to cater principally to politicians and government officials. He had been involved in political campaigns and helped lobby for government contracts. FACT: The whereabouts of Dacer and his driver could not be traced or located since their abduction during the incumbency of Senator Lacson as Chief-PNP. The bodies and the vehicle, however, surfaced in an open field in Cavite after PNP chief Lacson had resigned. Then, this was followed by the release of P/Supt. Glen Dumlao's alleged "confession". FACT: P/Supt. Dumlao was made to sign a "confession" naming Sr. Supt. Michael Ray Aquino and Supt. Cesar Mancao, as the `masterminds' behind the deaths of Mr. Dacer and his driver. However, Mr. Dumlao is now missing while under the custody of the government. FACT: Messers. Aquino and Mancao left the country ostensibly for security reasons. Their fears were founded when P/Sr. Supt. John Campos was subsequently assassinated. THE TRUTH: Senator Lacson was never named or tagged by anyone to be behind the deaths of Mr. Dacer and Mr. Corbito except in innuendoes.
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FACT: The house in Alabang that was erroneously reported in the media to be owned by Senator Lacson is, in fact, owned by a real estate corporation, Mega Star Real Estate Development Corporation, the company's first "build and sell" venture. FACT: Senator Lacson is a minority investor in the corporation. He was invited to invest in the project (with friends) after he resigned his position as PNP Chief. FACT: The construction of the house was completed with a P15 million loan by the company with Banco de Oro. FACT: Senator Lacson and his family owned and lived in BF Homes in Paranaque since 1982. FACT: The FBI denied a claim by Col. Corpus and NBI Dir. Wycoco that the senator owns mansions in the USA. THE TRUTH: The Lacson family temporarily resides in Mega Star Estate's house project in Alabang today. He does not own a single mansion in the US.
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FACT: Citizen Lacson's campaign materials and funds were donated mostly by families and businessmen whose kidnapped relatives (estimated to be more than 500 since 1972) were rescued by the senator. FACT: Candidate Lacson's campaign poster materials and handbills though numerous and attractive, were not identical. These were obviously funded and produced separately by various sources, not by Mr. Lacson's campaign staff. FACT: By Chavit Singson's and Atong Ang's accounts, PNP chief Lacson constantly raided jueteng and masiao. FACT: PNP chief Lacson's unrelenting campaign versus drug trafficking resulted in the confiscation of drug shipments and the arrests of notorious alien pushers and traffickers. Many of these drug busts done were in collaboration with counterparts in Asia and USA. THE TRUTH: Senator Lacson's political activities were supported by grateful families, not by drug lords or jueteng financiers.
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FACT: Katherine Hill, sister of Reginald, had written to
Phil. Daily Inquirer on August 29, 1987 to clarify that:
THE TRUTH: Senator Lacson did not kill Reginald Hill.
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FACT: When the Philippine Military Academy was still an all-male institution, it traditionally held its "Frolics Night" (a.k.a. "Hundred Night Show") using some cadets to dress and play the roles of "girls". FACT: Plebe Cadets Ping Lacson and Gringo Honasan, like hundreds of other PMA cadets before and after them, were ordered to play the roles at one or another. FACT: C/Supt. Reynaldo Berroya used a picture taken during the "Frolics Night" program as his proof for his malicious labeling. FACT: Senator Lacson is married to Alice de Perio, a former commercial model who hails from Pangasinan, with whom he has 3 sons. THE TRUTH: Senator Lacson is not gay.
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FACT: Kit Mateo was a civilian agent attached to the MISG in the early 70's and known personally to Lt. Col. Lacson. He, however, worked on missions mostly with Lt. Col. Reynaldo Berroya. FACT: Mr. Mateo was arrested, convicted and jailed with Sr. Supt. Reynaldo Berroya for the kidnapping of Jack Chow. FACT: Mr. Mateo was diagnosed with the cancer of the colon while in prison and had financial difficulty coping with his treatment. FACT: Based on his testimony to Channel 7's Sandra Aguinaldo last October 23, 2000, he was approached by Mr. Ambet Antonio while in prison and offered to seek Kit's release from prison and help him with his treatment on condition that he would implicate PAOCTF chief Supt. Lacson in several crimes to embarrass President Erap. FACT: Believing the offers made, Kit concocted crime scenes, i.e., pushing a mother and child out of a helicopter, etc. that directly implicated C/Supt. Lacson. His false declaration statement while in his sick bed was recorded by ABS-CBN's Ana Marie Puderanan. As an insurance against possible double-cross, however, Kit and his wife Vinia, made Ms. Puruganan sign an agreement that the interview will not be shown at anytime without their explicit approval. FACT: Four weeks after making the false testimony, the promised release from prison and financial help never came. This prompted Kit to arrange for an immediate retraction of his false testimony. He also asked for another TV reporter to record his retraction. FACT: ON October 21, 2000, he signed an affidavit confessing the truth about his false testimony. He was subsequently interviewed by Channel 7's Miss Sandra Aguinaldo. In his taped interview, Mr. Mateo asked for C/Supt. Lacson's forgiveness. FACT: Mr. Mateo was pardoned by President Estrada in 2001 for humanitarian reasons. He died two months later. FACT: Mr. Tulfo vented his anger on Senator Lacson who exposed him as a "certified extortionist" in his "Incredible Hulk" privilege speech last August 18, 2003. He promised his readers that "he would get even." FACT: Senator Lacson has filed a libel case against Mr. Tulfo and RPN-9 officials for airing the false testimony of Mr. Mateo even knowing fully well that the latter had recanted. THE TRUTH: Ping Lacson never ordered Kit Mateo to execute or kill anyone. In his taped retraction, Mateo confessed it was all a fabrication.
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