Duterte administration’s problem is it has double standards –Lacson

Presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson said the current problem of the Duterte administration was having "double standards," explaining that they defend their allies even if they did "wrong."

Lacson was asked during an interview with Korina Sanchez on Rated Korina’s “Upuan ng Katotohanan The 2022 Presidentiable special,” on the current administration’s current problem that still cannot be resolved.

“Sa tingin ko ang isang napakalaking pagkakamali ay yung double standard, kasi pag ikaw namumuno iba yung tingin mo sa kaalyado mo sa kaibigan mo kesa doon sa perceive mo na kaaway mo na di kaalyado,” Lacson said.

(I think the biggest fault of the Duterte administration was having double standards because if you are the president, your view of your allies and friends is different from the way you perceive your opponents.)

“Kitang kita natin sa nangyayari sa atin yung Pharmally parang dinedefend pa samantalang kitang kita ang lumalabas na ebidensya,” he added.

(We can see that in the Pharmally, he defended them while there is enough evidence.)

On Tuesday, Gordon released the draft partial committee report on the investigation into the transfer of P42-billion funds from the Department of Health (DOH) to the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service (PS-DBM).

The panel’s draft report said Duterte had betrayed the public trust with his actions related to the government's controversial multi-billion-peso supply contracts with Pharmally.

While Lacson believed that the number one problem of the country was the government, it was not the President alone.

“Hindi lang siya, pati yung sistema ng government, kailangan ifixed yung govt parang nagkikibit balikat na lang tayo pagmay naririnig tayong PhilHealth funds na nawawala, kaso ng Pharmally, katakot takot yung anomaly. Sa akin napakasamang pangitain na tinatawanan lang natin yung pangabuso sa kaban ng bayan,” he said.

(He is not only the problem but also the system. We need to fix the government because it brushes off other anomalies including PhilHealth funds and Pharmally. For me, it is very wrong that we did not take it seriously and abused the funds of the people.)

On the war on drugs, the senator said he would take a holistic approach including prevention and rehabilitation.

Asked if he will end contractualization in the country, Lacson said “Hindi naman end, pero termino at qualifications, if pagnandoon ka na sa serbisyo ng kompanya at ikaw naman ay papasa sa qualification gawin na nating permanent.”

(Not an outright end to it, but terms and qualifications. If you are working for a company and you are qualified, they should make you a permanent employee.)

Meanwhile, Lacson refuted claims that there were anomalies in the construction of the P8.9-billion new Senate building at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

“Wala, kasi nung ito ay nabuo may nanalo sa bidding kinausap ko yung mga implementing agency nito. Itong proyekto na ito please lang patawarin ninyo na ito, kung ano man nasa isip niyong ibang proyekto okay, pero itong Senate patawarin ninyo. Hindi kami makikinabang dito dahil paalis na kami eh,” he said.

(No, because when it was formed, someone won the bidding, I talked to its implementing agencies. Please forgive this project, whatever other project you have in mind is okay, but please forgive this Senate. We will not benefit from this because we are leaving.)

He earlier said the DPWH would oversee the construction of the new Senate building and would hold a public bidding for the Detailed Architectural and Engineering Design and Construction Package.

Lacson also said he would also pursue an independent foreign policy amid the heightened tension in the West Philippine Sea.

“Ang pinurpusue natin isang independepent foreign policy hindi tayo kikling sa Estado Unidos o papabor sa China so open tayo, [pero] hindi natin kaya yung China. Tama si Pangulong Duterte pero hindi ibig sabihin non papayuagan ibully ang mga mangingisda,” he said.

(What we are pursuing is an independent foreign policy, we are not in favor of the United States or favor of China. So we are open, [but] we cannot fight China. President Duterte is right but that does not mean that we will allow our fishermen to be bullied.)

“Pwede naman tapatan sa pamamagitan ng balance of power pagnakita na may equally strong na kaalyado ang Pilipinas na nakita na nandyan din eh nakabantay eh haggang giriian lang,” he added.

(We can do it through a balance of power if they see that the Philippines has an equally strong ally that is also guarding the maritime area.)

Meanwhile, Lacson said the public should vote for him as he was the most “competent, qualified, experienced” for the post. — DVM, GMA News