Ping Lacson on hiding, discipline & fears

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear — not absence of fear.   — Mark Twain, 1894 

Ping as legislator refuses to use the allocated pork barrel every year; as police official in the provinces or later as PNP chief, he refused to tolerate jueteng or illegal gambling, which eventually sparked the Erap/Chavit conflict leading to Edsa 2; he also refused reward money from crime victims he had saved. His foe, ex-General Berroya, on TV once complained that Ping refuses to drink liquor.

Senator Ping Lacson gave STAR this exclusive interview in two parts. Here are excerpts:

PHILIPPINE STAR: Is it true that President Noy Aquino is appointing you Secretary of the Department of Interior & Local Government (DILG)?

PING LACSON: I don’t know, I haven’t talked to the President.

At the height of ex-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s power, you were a wanted man and they even requested help from Interpol. Where did you hide for one year and two months?

(Laughs) I was hiding in a few countries.

How did you evade arrest for 14 months?

I guess I was used to past police training. Also, because I myself was fighting and pursuing criminals, so I know how to evade arrest. If you know how to catch others, you will know how to also evade… It entails a lot of self-discipline and, of course, alertness.

The GMA government cancelled your Philippine passport, how did you travel?

Ah, trade secret na ‘yon (that’s a trade secret) that I could still move around abroad even if they had cancelled my passport. They even asked for help from Interpol.

What was it like being on the run?

You’ve got to have self-discipline and to restrict your movements. I felt like a prisoner outside a prison cell, the only difference was I could still move around using my instinctive compass. Kasi ang mga makakakilala sa akin ay mga Pilipino, basta mukhang Asian (It’s because those who can recognize me are Filipinos, as long as Asian-looking), always assume that he or she is a Filipino.

You had no contact with people or your family?

Most of the time you have to maintain self-discipline, but ‘di naman puwede for so long a time hindi ka lalabas ng kuwarto (but it’s not possible for such a long time that you don’t come out of the room). I was also communicating with my staff and family, so I wasn’t totally incommunicado all that time, but I was using means of communications that they couldn’t trace.

On refusing a reward after rescuing a kidnapped relative of Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PCCI) Chairman Serge Ortiz-Luis, Jr.: “I didn’t want to get any reward money, because I felt the police might not help crime victims in the future without rewards. I was afraid that other police might become choosy.”

How did you do that, leave no trace?

I was creating e-mail addresses that were fake, also different IP addresses, because people can trace you. I was using a lot of decoys in communicating, like for example when I would transmit an e-mail to someone, then that person would send my messages to others. That was how I was able to issue press statements even when I was still in hiding.

Is it true you secretly returned through Mindanao or other coastal areas?

No, it was impossible for me to return to the Philippines then.

I heard that there’s a movie project on your life story that will star actor Robin Padilla?

I don’t know yet the details from the producers, but I think it’s going to be within the year or early next year. They were originally planning it for the Metro Manila Film Festival. Yes, initially it was supposed to be Robin Padilla, but not anymore due to his schedule.

Your assessments of 88-year-old Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile?

Enrile was very impressive, he’s really the hero here because he handled the trial (of ex-Chief Justice Renato Corona) so well, professionally, really independent, objective. He goes to the sessions every day prepared, he always had a trial brief, and he would read and read even in our caucuses. He is as sharp as a 30-year-old lawyer, truly honed by experience and he maintains his health. He was never once absent because of health reasons, and we never had any suspension of sessions because he wanted to rest. Enrile was always prepared physically, mentally and psychologically.

Even your critics say you are disciplined, how or from where did you develop this?

Basically it started sa bahay (in our home), because my mother Maxima Morena Lacson was a disciplinarian. Then, of course, when I studied for four years at PMA, I was further trained to be very disciplined.

Why as PNP chief did you impose the very famous 34-inch waistline requirement for all police, including your generals?

The 34-inch waistline requirement, that was more symbolic of our quest for discipline throughout the PNP, because I believe if our police could not discipline themselves, then wala na (no more).

Your reaction to a recent US government report that our police force is allegedly very corrupt?

It’s unfortunate. I felt sad reading this or hearing this kind of comment, because I used to head the PNP.

You remind people of strong-willed leaders like Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew, what are your impressions of him?

Since I was a young police officer, I already idolized him. He transformed Singapore from a sixth-class nation into a first-class economic power, that’s also why he lasted as a strong leader while others failed. He was a benevolent but iron-willed leader. He really led by example, especially in terms of integrity. I believe leadership by example is second to none in importance, for how could you discipline your subalterns if you yourself are undisciplined? In other words, you must practice what you preach, otherwise it’s no more than just lip service and the organization will just fail.

Why is Valenzuela Councilor Shalani Soledad Romulo close to you and how did she become your assistant?

Shalani was like a consultant to my staff in 2001 because she and her mother campaigned for me. She was with my office for two years, then she ran as councillor. Noong napapaaway doon sa pulitika (When there were conflicts in politics there), I sent her my moral support.

Was it you who introduced Shalani to then Senator Noynoy Aquino?

No I didn’t introduce them, he just saw her at the Senate gallery and he asked the reporters who she was. Smitten siya (He was smitten), then the reporters told him: “Yung tanungin mo iyang nasa harap mo (Ask the person seated in front of you).” I remember he would always talk about her. I knew he was attracted to her.

You became godfather in Shalani’s wedding to Congressman Roman Romulo.

Yes, when Shalani got engaged to Roman, they invited me to be their godfather. Kinontrata na ako agad (They immediately formalized the invitation). According to them, I was the first person they had informed about their wedding plans. I really wish Shalani a good married life, she deserves it.

Why did you become a close ally of Noy, was it because of Shalani?

Yes it seems. He really loved to talk about her then. But also we had the same political advocacies. We were really watching and criticizing the many abuses of the Arroyo government. In fact, sometimes we were both almost the only ones left on the Senate floor during the plenary debates on the budget deliberations.

So, Noy’s critics are wrong when they claim that he did nothing as a senator?

Yes, they’re wrong. Noynoy’s questions were well-researched.

Did Noy ever ask you where you hid when GMA wanted to jail you?

No, never. He didn’t ask, even when I had surfaced, he never asked.

How come you refuse to utilize the pork barrel allocated to all senators and congressmen?

In 2001 when I was first elected senator, P100 million was then already in the budget in the first six months, because I took over office in July. I then told my prospective staff: “Go out the door if any of you are thinking that we’ll earn from the pork barrel funds, you’re not welcome.” I want to continue my pork barrel advocacy. I want to test first-hand if I could change the system of the pork barrel.

Did you have any bad experience with the pork barrel?

At the start, I had prepared a letter to all government agencies that I’m not taking any commissions from the pork barrel, or else I said we’ll meet in the Ombudsman. And then I remember a particular allocation in that first term, in my own home province of Cavite. My volunteer engineer really followed through the projects, and there was a friend and supporter of mine who was then mayor of a town, he cheated on the projects. I wrote a letter to this mayor and told him to correct it. I told them to do the project all over again properly, or else I’d personally file cases against them, they did and they lost money.

Once also, there was a project to improve the water system in Laguna. I checked by going to the same hardware store where the proponents had bought PVC pipes. We bought PVC pipes at P1,900 each, but they had used my pork barrel to buy PVC pipes in the same hardware for P6,500 each! We did a test buy and uncovered this anomaly. I filed charges against the district engineer of the DPWH, also the regional director, also against the mayor who was proponent of that project. There was also a similar corruption case in Bulacan.

So you have since then refused to touch pork barrel funds?

I was so frustrated when I found out what’s wrong with our pork barrel system, in the implementation. My personal findings on the anomalies were mind-boggling. Not all politicians who use the pork barrel are guilty, but we have become suspect.

What is your answer to Noy’s critics who claim that being honest only is not enough for a person to lead and change a nation, that a leader needs vision and brilliance?

President Noynoy Aquino is really honest, and I believe having an honest leader is already half the battle won for a better Philippine future.

You have a tough guy image, what, if any, are your greatest fears?

Death, not so much the dying itself. Of course, all of us will die, the “when” is not very important, it’s how… Also, of course, failure is one of my worst fears.

You’ve always dreamt of becoming a policeman, even as a kid?

No, my childhood dream was to be an NBI agent, but I passed the PMA exams, and when I graduated in 1971, we were made to choose where to join. I couldn’t join the Air Force due to my eyeglasses. I didn’t join the navy, because my peers were already ahead there in career pattern, so I joined the Philippine Constabulary (PC). No regrets, because I eventually became chief of the PNP, which I felt made me an accomplished person, not because I headed it, but because I felt I did my job well---at least in reforming our police.

John Gokongwei, Jr. told me that when his daughter Robina was kidnapped and you were a young police officer who led the rescue operation, that you refused to accept his reward money? Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PCCI) Chairman Serge Ortiz-Luis, Jr. also years ago told me that you were a young police officer when you rescued his relative from kidnapping and that you even refused his offer for his car to bring you home from his office after a meeting, instead using public transport. Why?

I didn’t want to get any reward money, because I felt the police might not help crime victims in the future without rewards if I had set a bad precedent. I was afraid that other police might in the future choose the crime victims they’d help, baka maging choosy, paano na kung ‘yung pupunta sa aming mga pulis ay mukhang gusgusin (we might become choosy, what would happen if the crime victims who will approach us police for help looked unkempt and poor)? 

Do you have any favorite anti-crime heroes?

The courageous FBI agent Elliot Ness who brought down the big-time crime lord Al Capone, Elliot Ness was played by actor Kevin Costner in The Untouchables.

Your critics claim you’re a tough guy with no emotions?

Lahat naman ng tao may emotion (All people somehow have emotions).

Okay, do you remember the last time you cried?

The last time I cried was in November 2008, when my mother died.

Have you ever killed anyone? If yes, when?

Yes, I remember it was in Antipolo in 1971. It was a rescue operation. Let’s not go into details, you know some critics, kaso pa abutin natin (they might unnecessarily file cases against me).

How did it feel, killing a person?

It was my duty, kasi (because) it’s either you or your men shall die, or the criminals. In these encounters with criminals, it’s either you or them who will die.

Did you feel any fear during these encounters?

Ang fear relative iyan (Fear is relative), there were times before the jump off — during the briefing meeting — there were times I had felt very vulnerable and very cautious. But during operations against criminals, the fear is gone, like when we were fighting violent hold-uppers in Tondo, sipa lang nang sipa ng mga pintuan (I just kept kicking at doors, one after another).

Have you ever almost been killed?

Yes, my most dangerous experience was in Jones, Isabela, the birthplace of the New People’s Army (NPA), those were mountainous areas. When we were still there inside, I asked for reinforcement from Ilagan municipality just before we were assaulted by the rebels. One of my men, Lieutenant Toda, was killed, he was about 22 or 23 years old, a new graduate of PMA in 1987. He died in my arms. He was only one year in service. That happened in 1988. I almost died there… I had earlier tried to call to cancel the reinforcements request; if we had contacted them to stop the reinforcements, we would have all died. Even the reinforcements were ambushed.

Last question, will your former tormentor ex-President GMA ever be imprisoned?

Nakakulong na ah (She’s already imprisoned)! My fearless forecast is this: Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will be convicted, but I will not tell you on what case. That’s my prediction.

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