Lacson: I'm Machiavellian depending on which teaching

KALAWIT, Zamboanga del Norte -- Presidential candidate and Senator Panfilo Lacson said he is Machiavellian, or someone who subscribes to the teachings of Italian diplomat and philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli, but only to some extent.

"Ako Machiavellian pero qualified, depende sa kanyang teaching, sa kanyang mga quote at depende sa message na gusto niyang i-impart sa akin," Lacson said when asked during a town hall meeting here if he is Machiavellian.

(I am a Machiavellian but qualified, depending on his teaching, on the quote and the message that he imparts.)

Merriam-Webster defines Machiavellianism, or Machiavelli's political theory, as the "view that politics is amoral and that any means however unscrupulous can justifiably be used in achieving political power." It also said that such principle of conduct is "marked by cunning, duplicity, or bad faith."

Lacson, a former national police chief, said in instilling discipline among his men, he adopted Machiavelli's principle that "it is better to be feared than to be loved, if one cannot be both."

"Kung papipiliin ako, mas gusto ko na yung matakot sa akin ang mga tauhan ko para hindi gumawa ng masama. Yan ang gusto kong i-adopt kay Machiavelli," Lacson said.

(I prefer to be feared by my men so they will not commit any wrongdoings. That's what I want to adopt from Machiavelli.)

However, Lacson said he has reservations on Machiavelli's idea that "the end justifies the means."

"Malaki ang reservations ko don. Hindi pupwedeng yung end will justify the means, ibig sabihin maski kahit anong means gagawin mo para ma-justify ang end? Hindi ako sang ayon doon," he explained.

(I have huge reservations on that idea. The end cannot always justify the means, because it means you can do whatever just to justify the end. I do not agree with that.)

The question on being Machiavellian was first asked to presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. during the SMNI presidential interviews last Saturday.

Marcos, the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., said he considers himself Machiavellian who tends to be conservative and knowledgeable in making decisions to avoid mistakes.  —KBK, GMA News