Lacson explains 'true friendship' amid criticism from Duterte

Senator Panfilo Lacson, who was recently criticized by President Rodrigo Duterte, gave his take on what he believes is a true friend and ally.

"Kung may kaibigan o kaalyado ka na walang ginawa kundi purihin ka, alam mo na nga medyo mali ang sinabi mo pupurihin ka pa, magdududa talaga ako kung talagang kaibigan ko 'yan," Lacson said on GMA News' Unang Balita on Friday.

"Pero kung pinupuna ka at kino-call ang attention mo, at pupurihin ka naman kung talagang malinaw na dapat kang purihin, 'yan ang tunay na kaibigan."

Earlier this week, Duterte called Lacson "ignorant" after the senator criticized the President's pronouncement that there was nothing wrong with policemen receiving gifts.

Lacson kept his stance and responded to Duterte through a statement, maintaining that policemen accepting gifts out of gratitude and earning extra cash from video-karera was wrong. “Is this not graft, Mr President? Pray tell, who is ignorant?” said the senator.

Lacson was also among those who urged Duterte to fire former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Nicanor Faeldon amid the controversy involving the reported release of drug lords and other inmates convicted of heinous crimes due to good conduct time allowances (GCTA).

After removing him from the BuCor post, Duterte said he still believes in Faeldon.

Asked by GMA News anchor Arnold Clavio whether he believes Faeldon may have said something to the President that resulted in the latter expressing his ire towards him, Lacson said, "Hindi natin alam."

"Pero kung hinahanap na kaalyado o kaibigan si Presidente, 'yung wala nang gagawin kundi purihin siya o kaya i-bootlick o kaya lahat na maganda lang ang sasabihin pag mali man o tama ang sinabi niya, hindi ako 'yun," he added.

Faeldon, a former military officer who was one of the President's first appointments, was previously assigned to head the Bureau of Customs (BOC) during which he was also embroiled in an issue involving P6.4-billion worth of shabu that managed to slip past Customs.  —Margaret Claire Layug/KBK, GMA News