PNoy chooses controversial Ping Lacson to head post-Yolanda reconstruction

(Updated 10:36 a.m., Dec. 2) Former senator Panfilo Lacson told reporters Sunday that he will lead reconstruction efforts in areas ravaged by super typhoon Yolanda.

 

"After a series of consultations and briefings from experts in the field of reconstruction and rehabilitation of disaster stricken areas over the weekend, I decided to accept the President's offer to be rehab czar,” Lacson said via a text message on Sunday night ahead of any Palace announcement.

Communications Secretary Hermino Coloma on Monday morning issued a statement regarding the matter: "President Aquino thanked former Senator Lacson for accepting his invitation for him to assume a lead role in overseeing rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the aftermath of typhoon Yolanda. The full scope of his duties and responsibilities will be embodied in an executive order that will be issued shortly."

One of the most controversial and polarizing political figures in the last two decades, Lacson is a curious and risky choice. As a senator for 12 years, his law-making often took a backseat to highly public word wars with fellow senators, especially Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, and ex-President Joseph Estrada, his former boss with whom he had a falling out during EDSA Dos in 2001.

Lacson also parted ways with his party leader, then-Sen. Edgardo Angara, in 2004 when the former ran for president.

As the head of rehabilitation dealing with both national and local government officials each with their own priorities and alliances, Lacson will need a deep well of public trust and all the skills of a seasoned mediator. But he is handicapped by his past.

As Estrada's powerful chief operative against organized crime, Lacson was linked to several brutal murders, including those of the well-known publicist Salvador Dacer and his driver.

Coloma had only good words for Lacson on Sunday when asked about the possibility of his being rehab czar, but would not confirm it even after Lacson texted reporters that he had been chosen for the job.

“Kilala na po siya sa kanyang record ng paglilingkod. Naging director general po siya ng Philippine National Police bago po siya naging senador, at ‘yung kanya namang paglilingkod [as] senador for two terms ay maganda naman po ang kanyang record bilang legislator at public servant,” Coloma said in an interview aired over state-run DZRB.

President Aquino reportedly told a Cabinet meeting on Friday that he had decided to appoint Lacson his rehabilitation "czar." Lacson said he would spend the weekend thinking it over after a lengthy meeting with Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa.

Fugitive

For more than a year while he was a senator, Lacson was overseas as a fugitive from justice, with Interpol assisting in the search. He returned in March 2011 after being cleared by the courts.

Lacson would still bring to any executive role the reputation for questionable methods as a law enforcer. At the very least, his opponents could harp on his colorful past and cause a distraction.

Lacson served as senator from 2001 to 2013. Prior to that, he was the Philippine National Police director general for two years.
 

Billions in rehab funds

Lacson said he spent the weekend talking to experts in post-disaster reconstruction.
 

"Those consultations gave me the confidence that the task, while daunting, is doable within the period of his presidency. I have informed the President of my decision and he has acknowledged the same,” he added.

President Aquino has not made any public statement about Lacson's supposed new assignment.

 

Based on the latest tally by authorities, the monster typhoon has affected more than 11 million individuals, killing some 5,600 people, and leaving millions homeless and displaced.

 

The super typhoon, dubbed the strongest to make landfall in recorded history, damaged about P30 billion worth of agriculture and infrastructure.

The task of rehabilitation is not only gargantuan but will involve an enormous amount of money, including funds from sympathetic foreign donors.

 

The Budget Department has allocated more than P130 billion for this year until the end of 2014 to bank roll the rehabilitation of the calamity-stricken areas in the Visayas Region.

 

P50 billion of those funds will be sourced from the 2014 budget allocation, savings from the 2013 budget, and unused “pork barrel” of lawmakers. The other P80 billion will be sourced through “concessional loans” from multilateral lending agencies.

 

About P40.9 billion of the said fund will be allocated in the following way:

 

 

The government has identified some 171 municipalities from 14 provinces as “first-priority areas” in the said recovery plan.

 

Earlier, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) disclosed that reconstruction costs required for the Philippines will be more expensive than the post-tsunami efforts needed in rebuilding Aceh in Indonesia, where the deaths exceeded 100,000.

Lacson was previously embroiled in the Kuratong Baleleng murder case where suspected gang members were killed in an alleged rubout. Lacson was also one of the accused in the killings of PR man Salvador Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000. He has since been cleared in all the cases. — Rouchelle R. Dinglasan and Kimberly Jane Tan/JDS/KDM/KG/HS, GMA News