Ping Lacson bows out on 74th birthday, gives way to ‘evolution of lawmakers’

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday marked his 74th birthday by delivering a valedictory on five decades of government service, saying he was giving way for "the evolution of our country’s long line of legislators." 

The three-term lawmaker and former chief of the Philippine National Police took the Senate floor for the last time, reading a brief speech from his mobile phone.  

"This is it. My long journey of 50 years now comes to an end... I have gone full circle in this lifetime. I have experienced the best and the worst of life," Lacson said.

Lacson expressed excitement about going home to his family.

"Yes, I am finally going home and allow the evolution of our country’s long line of legislators to take its course," Lacson said.

"Goodbye and good luck to my dear friends and colleagues," he added.

Instead of running for reelection, Lacson ran for president in Eleksyon 2022 but was among several candidates who lost to President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Lacson's term as senator will end on June 30 but the 18th Congress adjourned sine die on Wednesday.

Lacson said his childhood dream was to become a lawyer and to be an agent of the National Bureau of Investigation.

He said some "unplanned twist of fate" instead placed him in the Philippine Military Academy.

"My dream then was to wear that insignia with a star on my shoulder. Instead I got four stars as chief of the nations police force and with a bang," Lacson said.

"I never imagined much less dreamt of becoming one of only 24 senators of the Republic in 2001, again in 2007, and again in 2016. Sometimes, life can be full of mystery," he added.

"We get what we don’t expect and much more," Lacson said.

‘Make the people win’

Outgoing Senator Richard Gordon reminded his colleagues to always make the Filipino people win.

"I never spoke to satisfy myself. I try to speak, I try to reach out and that is leadership. You have to reach out and change mindsets and the Senate is the greatest place where you can change mindsets," Gordon said.

"Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but the most important thing is you must always make the people win," he added.

It is still not clear whether or not Gordon will retire from public service after losing his reelection bid in Eleksyon 2022.

The 76-year-old chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross won't answer questions if he again planned to run for the Senate in 2025.

Senator Manny Pacquiao, who unsuccessfully ran for president, vowed to continue serving the people with or without a government position.

"May posisyon man ako o wala, ang pangarap ko lang sa ating lahat na nasa posisyon pa, nawa matulungan natin ang ating mga kababayan na naghihirap," Pacquiao said, recalling his struggles with poverty before he became a world boxing champion. 

Senate President Pro-Tempore Juan Miguel Zubiri said Pacquiao could just be a having a short break from the Senate.

"Baka mag-No. 1 pa siya sa next elections," Zubiri said after Pacquiao's valedictory. —NB, GMA News