Lacson slams critics accusing him of contradicting his stand on ‘calamity politics’

Presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson slammed critics who accused him of contradicting his own stand on "calamity" politics after his team extended help to Typhoon Agaton victims in Iloilo.

"To the bashers who accuse me of breaking my word on the abhorrent 'calamity politics' - knock your heads. All the credit goes to our volunteers in Estancia, Iloilo who spent time, money and effort to help the typhoon victims among their fellow Ilonggos," Lacson said in a tweet.

On April 13, Lacson shared a video on his Twitter account showing how his team and some local volunteers were packing goods for a relief operation in Iloilo.

"While two bitter political groups are busy demonizing each other with their generational politics of hate, our advance team and local volunteers converted our cancelled events in Estancia, Iloilo into an instant rescue and relief operation. As their leader, I am so proud of them," Lacson said in a separate tweet.

"Calamity politics" was earlier brought up by Lacson when presidential candidate and Senator Manny Pacquiao, in a social media post in December 2021, asked his fellow presidential aspirants to set aside politics and band together to help the victims of Typhoon Odette, in which, another presidentiable, Vice President Leni Robredo responded.

Lacson said he would have offered his help had Pacquiao approached him privately.

“If it was done through private communication, I would have responded privately as well and offered whatever resources we can share at our disposal in a coordinated effort. Since it was done through media—it goes against my principled belief that 'calamity politics' is the lowest form of campaigning. In fact, I consider it abominable,” Lacson told GMA News Online in a text message.

Nevertheless, Lacson said his office, like in past calamities, would extend its help to the victims without fanfare.

“As in the past calamities, my Senate office as well as friends and supporters assisted without fanfare and without any media coverage. We did it in Cagayan Valley, and Bicol region and some other areas hit by strong typhoons. Election or no election, we assist and help, period,” he added.

In January, Lacson echoed his warning about politicians who are helping and calamity victims for personal gain.

"During a pandemic and after a calamity, two kinds of politics emerge—the politics of service helps the victims; the politics of interest helps the politicians," he said in an earlier tweet.

He reminded the public that what the country needs is a politician whose help is "anchored on service, not one based on self-interest." — BM, GMA News