Lacson: I didn't receive any help from Aquino

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Sunday denied that he did not sign the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee's report on the Dengvaxia controversy because former President Benigno Aquino III had helped him in the past.

Lacson made the remark following panel chair Richard Gordon's "unreasonable statements" which seemed to suggest that he is pro-Aquino.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, Lacson said he did not receive any help from Aquino in his supposed involvement in the the Dacer-Corbito double murder case, which caused him to leave the country and become a fugitive for more than a year.

"Ang issue ko sa kanya bakit naman siya magbabatikos agad na kaya 'di ako pumirma dahil tinulungan ako noong ako may kaso. Kaya kino-correct ko walang naitulong sa akin si dating Pangulong Aquino sa aking kaso," he said.

"Ang tumulong sa akin ang katotohanan," he added.

Lacson said he spent most of his time hiding during the term of Aquino, making it impossible that he received help from the former president.

"Bumalik ako [ng Pilipinas] March 26, 2011. Nawala ako January 7, 2010. Anong mas mahabang panahon na ginugol ko in hiding? 'Di ba panahon ni PNoy? Anong klaseng tulong 'yan?" he said.

"Ibig sabihin shooting from the hip bigla na lang siya babatikos, kaya ako nainis," he added.

Lacson said there is nothing wrong in him saying that he finds it difficult to believe that Aquino is capable of committing graft and corruption.

"Yan ang aking experience sa working relationship kay Pangulong Aquino noong kami senador pa, magkasama kami sa Senate noon, at noong naging presidente siya. Ina-assault ko ba ang report niya by saying that? Of course not," he said.

"Sariling opinion ko it is difficult for me to believe he was capable of committing graft and corruption, without giving reference to the committee report of Gordon kasi 'di ko nabasa ang committee report," he added.

Despite the rift, Lacson said he would not initiate Gordon's removal as chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

"For all we know, this will be a learning experience for all of us, for Dick and myself included, para alam mo na, mai-correct namin ang direction niya na tinatahak tuwing magkakaroon ng pagdinig ang Blue Ribbon," he said.

"Baka sa susunod na pagdinig pagbigyan niya kami magtanong. Sana maging conscious na siya ika nga," he added. —Erwin Colcol/ALG, GMA News