Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Thursday said there would be no ‘ceasefire,’ rejecting an apparent peace overture amid his ongoing feud with Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano.
‘CEASEFIRE MY FOOT! What kind of man declares war, armed with a toy gun and with just his saliva as ammunition, then uses intermediaries to ask for a ceasefire when confronted by real bombs?’ Lacson said on X.
Lacson did not name any names in his post but had been in an ongoing word war with Cayetano, which according to Lacson, also prompted his investigation of infrastructure projects in Taguig, the bailiwick of Cayetano.
On Tuesday, Lacson announced that his office had turned over to the Office of the Ombudsman all the documentary and testimonial evidence they had gathered from his office’s investigation into infrastructure projects in Taguig.
He said they uncovered irregularities, including ghost projects, double appropriations and recycled photos from previously completed contracts used to bill and collect for new ones.
For his part, Cayetano denied the allegations and described Lacson’s accusations as ‘general’ and ‘sweeping.’
Cayetano also said he was prepared to answer the ‘malicious’ accusations against him and that the public deserved to know the ‘whole truth’ through the proper process.
Earlier, Lacson said he was going all out to defend his integrity after Cayetano crossed a line by insinuating that the increase in Lacson’s net worth was questionable.
Lacson maintained that his wealth grew through legitimate business during the three years he was out of the Senate. He added that integrity remains his most prized possession, one he inherited from his parents.
Just this Wednesday, Lacson said the public should await the Senate blue ribbon committee’s hearing where he will expose what his office found in Taguig.
Blue ribbon committee chairperson Sen. Erwin Tulfo earlier accused minority senators of blocking the panel’s hearings. In response, Cayetano said, ‘Do you believe them?’
Cayetano has yet to respond tothe Inquirer’s request for comment on Lacson’s latest pronouncements.
But in a Facebook livestream late Thursday, Cayetano denied that he sought a ‘ceasefire’ with Lacson, saying the term came from other senators who had approached him amid their escalating feud.
‘Ang salitang si ceasefire hindi po nanggaling sa akin,’ Cayetano clarified.
(The word ceasefire did not come from me.)
He said some senators had raised concerns over their continued infighting, including a reminder that it could distract the Senate from other issues that needed attention.
Cayetano maintained that he was prepared to face the allegations against him and respond when necessary.
Cayetano also accused Lacson of practicing what he called ‘KKK,’ which he defined as ‘Kuyog, tapos Kaso, tapos Kulong.’ (Gang up, file cases, jail.)
‘At isa si Sen. Lacson sa nagpapairal din nun,’ (And Sen. Lacson is among those who also practice that.) Cayetano said, criticizing Lacson’s handling of the Senate blue ribbon committee’s previous investigation.
Toward the end of the livestream, Cayetano thanked senators acting as ‘peacemakers,’ saying the intention was to put their disputes in the proper venue so Senate work would not be disrupted.
‘Hindi sinabing huwag. Hindi sinabing walang karapatan, hindi sinabing ceasefire. Ang sinabi lang, ilagay natin sa ayos,’ he said.
(They didn’t say to stop. They didn’t say anyone had no right to speak, nor did they call for a ceasefire. They only said that things should be handled properly.