GMA: Lacson in US to seek support for possible takeover

Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo claimed yesterday that Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Panfilo Lacson flew recently to the United States to seek Washington’s support for a possible takeover of the government.

A source based in Washington also alleged that Lacson was planning to mount a coup in case President Estrada is acquitted of corruption charges, and against Arroyo in case she assumes the presidency.

Citing intelligence reports, Arroyo said Lacson purposely went to the US to consult and seek its nod for his own "succession plan."

"That’s their plan. Balak niya, ibenta ang sarili sa Amerikano (He plans to sell himself to the Americans)," Arroyo told reporters.

She said the intelligence reports indicated that Lacson and colleagues were actually seeking US support for themselves, not for the Estrada administration.

"This showed that Lacson himself wanted to install himself as president when his boss, the embattled President Estrada, is eventually ousted," Arroyo said.

She added that another purpose of Lacson’s US trip was to persuade suspected gambling lord Rodolfo "Bong" Pineda to testify against her.

Arroyo, constitutional successor to Mr. Estrada, has been accused by her detractors of having received gambling payoffs from Pineda. However, she has vehemently denied the allegations, adding she knew him only through his wife, the incumbent mayor of her hometown of Lubao in Pampanga.

"That’s the only association I have with them. I don’t accept gambling money from them," Arroyo said.

The Washington-based source, who was reportedly privy to Lacson’s 90-minute meeting with Republican congressman Dana Rohrabacher and congressional adviser Al Santoli, said Lacson has claimed his popularity rating was higher than those of Mr. Estrada and Arroyo.

"Lacson and his fellow conspirators in the PNP and military will oust Estrada and seize power, justifying their actions by claiming that they are saving the country from Estrada, GMA (Arroyo), the communist and the Chinese," the source said.

Rohrabacher, a senior member of the US House committee on international relations, visited Manila at the height of the country’s territorial dispute with China over the Spratly islands in the South China Sea in the middle of last year.

Rohrabacher and Santoli were reportedly recognized by the US Congress as experts in Philippine affairs.

The source said Lacson, who made the rounds of Washington courtesy of lawyer Steven Karalexas, has been telling American officials that Arroyo "is not the solution" to the political and economic crisis in the Philippines.

Lacson also said acquittal for the President in the impeachment trial was very likely.

The PNP chief reportedly asked permission from Mr. Estrada to go to the US to attend a seminar on anti-terrorism.

The source said Lacson, who was accompanied in the US trip by Gen. Marcelino Malajacan, senior assistant to Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado, Chief Superintendent Francisco Zubia and Senior Superintendent Michael Ray Aquino, made no efforts to defend Mr. Estrada or Arroyo.

"They (Lacson and company) were not defending Estrada. They showed the US leaders photos of GMA with leftist leaders and passed out copies of the left’s proposals, alleging that GMA has agreed to terminate bilateral RP-US military relations," the source added.

"They said that Estrada, Gloria and (Manila Archbishop Jaime) Cardinal Sin’s popularity ratings have all dropped, but the police and military popularity is up. Lacson said polls showed he had a higher popularity rating than Erap or Gloria."

Lacson also allegedly told the US officials that alternative plans were afoot to replace Mr. Estrada, but insisted that Arroyo is not the solution because of her communist dalliance.

The source also revealed that newly installed Speaker Arnulfo Fuentebella will be the next Philippine official to go to the US.

Meanwhile, sources at the Department of Foreign Affairs said Lacson went on a personal mission to the US, but refused to coordinate his activities in Washington with the Philippine Embassy there.

Lacson reportedly met with US Assistant Defense Secretary Franklin Kramer, although details of the meeting were not immediately known.

The DFA sources said Lacson failed to get an appointment with State Department officials. – With reports from Aurea Calica