Stick to facts, Lacson tells Aguirre amid destab claim

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Friday advised Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to stick to the facts concerning the kidnap-slay of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo, following Aguirre's claim that the incident could be part of a supposed destabilization plot against President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a radio interview, Lacson said Aguirre's claim may just be from his own analysis of the events.

"Di ko alam ang pinanggagalingan. Baka analysis niya yan o may information siya. Pero ang tingnan na lang natin [yung] nangyari sa Koreano. Pulis talaga ang gumawa, sa Crame naman talaga pinatay," Lacson pointed out.

"Kapag pinag-usapan ang facts, doon tayo mag-stick. Kapag may ibang anggulo nakapaloob dito, kung di man speculation, posibleng may intelligence info na natatanggap siya. Pero labas yan sa talagang aktwal na pangyayari eh," he added.

Lacson is the chairman of the Senate public order committee, which is conducting a legislative inquiry on the kidnapping and killing of Jee.

Jee was abducted from his home in Angeles City, Pampanga, on October 18. He was killed the same day inside Camp Crame, the national headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP), and was cremated a day later.

During the Senate inquiry on Thursday, Aguirre said any attempt to destroy the credibility of PNP chief Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa could be considered an attack against the Duterte administration.

"Kung si General dela Rosa ay masisira mo, I'm sure na made-demoralize o sisirain mo ang PNP. Kapag nasira mo ang PNP na siyang arm ng Pangulong Duterte, masisira mo na rin ang administrasyon ng Pangulong Duterte," Aguirre said.

"Kaya sinasabi ko ito'y posibleng hataw sa kalabaw, sa PNP, kina General dela Rosa; pero sa kabayo ang latay. Sino ang kabayo dito? Ang ating administrasyon, si Pangulong Duterte," the DOJ chief added.

Lacson said, however, that while it was possible that the Jee slay was "orchestrated," it was "not probable." —Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/KBK, GMA News