Why Ping Lacson has forgiven Cesar Mancao

Former Sen. Panfilo Lacson has long forgiven his former police subordinate and close ally Cesar Mancao, the former chief of the Philippine National Police said on Monday.

Mancao has apologized for implicating Lacson for the double murder of publicist Bubby Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in 2000.

Mancao's allegations resulted in the issuance of a warrant for Lacson's arrest in early 2010. The senator had gone into hiding even before the arrest order was issued. 

"Hindi naman talaga mawawala sa akin yung hinanakit, pero yung pagpapatawad, ibang bagay naman sa hinanakit eh," Lacson said in a news forum when asked about forgiving Mancao.
 

Lacson said that he had forgiven Mancao and others who had done him wrong.

"Maski noon pa, nagtatago pa ako ay yun ay communication ko, communication namin ng God yun eh," said Lacson.

Lacson said that while he was in hiding, his wife had to undergo open heart surgery. He prayed that if his wife's operation was successful, he would forgive everyone.

"Nangako ako sa Kanya, na kung makaligtas yung aking asawa sa maselan na operasyon eh yun sabi ko patatawarin ko sila lahat. Eh yun, panghahawakan ko yun habang buhay na," Lacson said.

 

At one point, he said he was tempted to file a case against one prosecutor, but in the end decided not to.

"Kasi nga nagkaroon na ako ng communication sa taas at sinabi kong, what for, kikimkimin mo pa sa dibdib mo eh di sasakit din yung dibdib mo. Mas maganda nang maluwag sa dibdib mo na pinatawad mo na sila, tutal, lumabas na rin naman yung katotohanan even before Mancao came out with his statements at ang kanyang bagong revelation," Lacson said.

 

Asked if he is ready to face Mancao, he said perhaps one day they would bump into each other and he could formally forgive him, the way he did with former Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera.

"Sabi ko, Sec. Agnes, wala kang dapat hingin ng tawad, kasi matagal na akong nakapagpatawad sa lahat ng taong humabol sa akin noon. At alam ko naman kung saan ka nanggagaling noon, alam ko naman na ikaw naman ay sumusunod lamang sa utos ng nakakataas sayo," Lacson recalled.

 

Lacson also said that he was able to learn a lot from the experience, most importantly who his true friends are. "Ang sa akin, ang magandang learning experience doon at napakagandang malaman mo who your true friends are. Sa akin, blessing yun," he said. —NB, GMA News