Ping role one of Rudy’s best

It’s not surprising why Rudy Fernandez is sporting a wide grin these days. Daboy just finished his most controversial yet prized role to date, that of Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson in Millennium Cinema’s newest action films, The Ping Lacson Story.

It is one big role any actor would be willing to grab because of its timely yet inspired tale of a man whose courage made him one of the most powerful men in the history of the PNP. Daboy plays Gen. Ping Lacson, a true-to-life role which he Daboy) says is no easy thing to do.

"So far, this is my most demanding, most challenging role. I’ve played true-to-life characters before but this is much more demanding. First of all, Gen. Lacson is still alive and very active in his service as PNP Chief. He’s very popular and we have to go into details before we started filming."

Daboy has played a handful of real characters before in films such as Alyas Baby Ama, Batuigas: Pasukuin si Waway, The Binbong Crisologo Story, Operation: Get Victor Corpuz and Lagalag The Eddie Fernandez Story. He finds the story of Gen. Lacson very colorful and something that will set a good example for those who want to become law enforcers.

"His life is not an ordinary one," says Daboy. "He went through so many dangerous assignments and with one wrong move, he might have died young. But you will be amazed at how Gen. Lacson faced danger without fear. He’s what you would call a fighting machine though you would picture him as a quiet and simple man of principle."

Daboy is proud to say that he was the original choice to play the role of the good general. He adds that it is definitely a role any actor would have fought for.

"It’s a dream role for me. So when we started shooting, I did a little researching myself about him. I cut out newspaper clippings about him and read a few stories on his achievements. Gen. Lacson is one of those rare law enforcers who know the meaning of loyalty and camaraderie."

The movie starts with the Kuratong Baleleng Massacre case where Gen. Lacson was pinpointed as the mastermind. Daboy says this it is just one of the highlights of the biopic. There is definitely more to watch out in the movie.

"We will not just show Gen. Lacson as the police officer or the PNP chief but we will also show how he is a normal person. We will show the way he reacts to different situatioins he involves himself in and the women that he, in one time or the other, loved besides his wife Alice. The movie will also show. Gen. Lacson as a family man, someone who loves his family more than own safety."

Daboy was last seen in the blockbuster hit, Palaban, with Ara Mina. He hopes that The Ping Lacson Story would also be as huge (or even bigger) than his recent movie at the box-office.

The Ping Lacson Story is directed by Toto Natividad and also stars Lorna Tolentino, Glydel Mercado, Ricky Davao, Daisy Reyes, Herbert Bautista. Ace Espinosa, Rommel Montano, Ray Ventura, Noni Buencamino, among others. The film is produced by Millennium Cinema.