Ping to stop privilege speeches for now

MANILA, Philippines - That’s all, folks.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson yesterday said he would no longer deliver the expected third part of his privilege speech revealing the “bad side” of former President Joseph Estrada.

Lacson, after being forgiven by Estrada for his exposes, said he would now concentrate on legislative work, particularly on the proposed national budget for next year.

Lacson though revealed he would file criminal and administrative charges against the lawyer of former police senior superintendent Cezar Mancao II for false statements, and for meeting with Estrada.

Lacson said he would file the charges against lawyer Ferdinand Topacio tomorrow.

In a two-part privilege speech last week, Lacson detailed the “bad side” of his former boss, alleging Estrada was behind the November 2000 murder of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and driver Emmanuel Corbito, among other crimes.

Lacson also claimed Estrada was involved in illegal gambling, smuggling and forcing businessman Alfonso Yuchengco to sell his shares in the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.

He also suggested the former president was behind the disappearance of Edgardo Bentain, the casino employee who reportedly took a video of then vice president Estrada gambling with his friend Charlie “Atong” Ang.

During his sortie in Dagupan City, Pangasinan last Friday, Estrada declared he had already forgiven Lacson for his “vicious” allegations, and would continue to forgive Lacson despite the “viciousness of the black propaganda and smear campaign” of the senator.

Lacson, on the other hand, said he would have to deal with Topacio, Mancao’s lawyer, pointing out that Topacio had admitted talking with Estrada. He said.

Topacio should talk to him instead of meeting with Estrada, since Topacio’s client himself had linked Estrada to the killings.

Lacson warned Topacio against using any channels to appease him because what he had been doing had been “too much.”

“Why would he go to the house of (former President) Estrada if he’s not up to something? He could not deny that because there were many people there. How can he deny that?” Lacson asked.

Lacson said the worst that could happen to Topacio is to be disbarred for unethical conduct.

“I asked several lawyers and they all claimed Topacio should not be acting as the spokesman of a case he is handling and pending in the court,” he said.

Lacson noted Topacio has been the main source of journalists who have been barred from covering the hearing of the double murder case at the Manila regional trial court.

“And that’s not all. He is making his own judgment and conclusions of the events that occurred during the trial,” he said.