RG San Luis
Aug 26, 2017 · 4 min read

Faeldon is still a bit of an idealist in his view of Lacson as an upright public official. As a frequent visitor to Cebu, on business during the 90s, I was on the same PAL flight with Lacson either coming to or going from Cebu back to Manila.

The man definitely has good taste in everything. Rolex timepiece, Lacoste sports shirt, branded jeans, shoes and a high end leather attache case. Lacson is always impeccably groomed and his skin radiates a glow not typical for a police official.

I met him personally at the birthday celebration of former La Salle brother and then Alaminos, Laguna Mayor, Samuel Bueser. Bro. Sam was my Rizal Studies professor at DLSU. His first sentence during the first day of class was "I am anti-Marcos but pro-Danding." He was also a socialist.

He taught Rizal Studies in a most unusual manner. He didn't use the textbook as his basis but only for reference. Read from the textbook about the ills of Philippine society then and apply it to the present context.

It was an out of the box method for a non-conformist member of a religious order who was politically awakened. He was always accompanied by his unleashed Pyrennean mountain dog who would keep to himself at the corner of the classroom while his master taught.

I had the chance to talk to him again at his birthday party about why he opted out of being a La Salle brother. He said that he felt he was done with all he could do as a member of the religious moulding the minds of the youth. He wanted to do something which had more of an impact on the daily lives of the poor. He got out and married a former nun who was a member of the CPP/NPA and ran for Mayor of his hometown.

This was in 1994. Ramos won the 1992 elections and Bro. Sam was only one of two Laguna Mayor's who remained loyal to the Nationalist People's Coalition of Danding Cojuangco. All of the other Mayors of Laguna had detected to the ruling Lakas party of then President Fidel Ramos.

Ping Lacson was also present at this birthday party. He was accompanied by a coterie of men led by his chief deputy, Michael Ray Aquino, Ninoy to his mistahs in PMA Class 1988. Lacson was chief of Task Force Habagat under the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission, the anti-crime body created by the President and headed by then Vice-President Joseph Estrada.

The other operating units of the PACC were Task Force Lawin under Col. Reynaldo Berroya and Task Force Amihan under Col. Roberto Calinisan. Lacson, Berroya and Calinisan were all part of the Metrocom Intelligence and Security Group or MISG during the Marcos administration under the command of Col. Rolando Abadilla, also known as Kabise, to his colleagues and friends alike.

Leopoldo "Ka Hector" Mabilangan was also present at Bro. Sam's birthday celebration. A week later, Mabilangan would be shot dead by an unknown assassin outside the Batangas Cathedral where he stood as a wedding sponsor. To this day, his killing remains unsolved.

It is not uncommon to see police and military officials have lifestyles which is not commensurate to the compensation they are receiving from the service. The justification has always been that they often establish businesses at their place of assignment. The unasked question is if this does not present a conflict of interest considering they are officers of the AFP and the PNP and govern employees.

The informed public has long been aware of what is referred to as the prevailing norm, or "kalakaran" in the vernacular, for such practices. It is for this reason that police and military officials are often drafted into appointive government posts after their mandatory retirement at age 56. The more popular ones and those who have the means, often run for elective posts in their respective hometowns or bailiwicks.

Since his election as Senator, Lacson has always prided himself as one of the few not to have availed of pork barrel funds. This is part of his image as one who is not corrupt.

The Filipino people now have to formulate a new set of standards for whom they will elect to public office. More often than not, the basis has always been who can give them the most favors if and when he wins elective office. This is particularly true in the provinces. Again, the basis is not what you know, but whom you know. There is no effort exerted to scrutinize qualifications and competencies. It has always been all about the image projected.

The public complains about politicians making fools of them. But if this practice is to stop, the public should first stop making fools of themselves.

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