A PHOTOGRAPH showing Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo M. Lacson with the Discaya couple is likely meant to discredit his chairing of the Senate Blue-Ribbon committee’s investigation into anomalous flood control projects.
Lacson, who chairs the Blue-Ribbon committee, said the photo was taken during the 2025 campaign period, for an invitation to a political rally that he declined, and nothing more.
‘The fact that it is being circulated only means that it intended to besmirch my reputation and credibility in chairing the Blue-Ribbon committee on the flood control project anomalies,’ Lacson said.
One of those who shared the photo was controversial Cavite Rep. Kiko Barzaga.
Lacson stressed: ‘I did not know the Discayas and that was the first and only time outside of the Blue-Ribbon committee hearings that I met them. That meeting took around 15 to 20 minutes but not before that group photo was taken.
Lacson said that during the campaign period, a Davao City-based campaign supporter, Fred Villaroman, brought them to his office in Taguig City. Villaroman’s father, the late Police Brig. Gen. Francisco Villaroman, had served under Lacson in the National Police (PNP) and headed the security detail of then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte until 2016.
During the meeting, Lacson was invited to a political rally of the Pinoy Ako party-list group, where the Discayas’ son was running as a nominee. Cezarah and Pacifico Discaya II were at the meeting.
But Lacson said he begged off from the invitation out of respect for his friend, now Senate President Vicente Sotto III. Sotto’s nephew Vico was running for reelection as Pasig City Mayor against Cezarah.
Also, Lacson said there were other party-list groups who were including his name in their sample ballots, ‘and I thought it was not a smart political decision to join a rally of any party-list group.’
Lacson, likewise, stressed that they did not discuss any campaign contribution. ‘I did not receive, nor did the Discayas offer any campaign contribution in whatever form,’ he said.
‘I hope this clarifies whatever insinuations are being attached to this said photograph,’ he added.