Un-Filipino: Lacson on Imee claims at INC rally

Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairperson Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Tuesday described as "un-Filipino" the remarks made by Senator Imee Marcos at the peace rally by the Iglesia Ni Cristo in Manila on Monday.

Lacson said that the presidential sister could have privately resolved her issue with her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 

"That was very un-Filipino. We have seen siblings quarrel but they confine it inside the home... But to bring your conflict in front of hundreds of thousands of people at the Luneta, to me that's unacceptable as a Filipino. We Filipinos are not like that," Lacson said in a statement. 

"I am disappointed with Sen. Marcos' action. She could have done this in another forum, but not to make accusations whether true or not in front of hundreds of thousands of people," he added.

In a speech before thousands of attendees on the second day of the religious group’s anti-corruption protest at the Quirino Grandstand, Imee accused the President and members of the First Family of using illegal drugs.

She claimed that First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos and some of the President's friends were using narcotics.

In response, the Palace said what the senator did was "definitely a desperate move.”

Further, Lacson believes that Imee’s allegations are politically motivated. 

"Politics, nothing else. Why discredit your own brother in front of hundreds of thousands of people?" he said.

For Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Imee’s revelations at the INC rally could be the "defining moment of her political career."

Destabilization bad for economy 

Meanwhile, Senate Committee on Finance chairperson Sherwin Gatchalian that any talks of destabilization might badly affect the country’s economy. 

“Yung simpleng usapan lang ng destabilisasyon, hindi na maganda para sa atin. Ngayon nakikita nating mahina ang piso kontra dolyar, ‘yung stock market pababa.  Sino pang mamumuhunan sa atin kung ganyan ang sitwasyon?” he said in a statement. 

(The mere talk of destabilization is already not good for us. Right now, we see that the peso is weak against the dollar, and the stock market is going down. Who will still invest in us if the situation is like that?) 

“Malaking bahagi ng ekonomiya ang household consumption, almost 60 to 70 percent. Kapag hindi maganda ang sentimyento ng mga tao, naaapektuhan nito ang paggastos o pagbili,” he added. 

(Household consumption is a huge part of the economy, almost 60 to 70 percent. When people’s sentiment is not good, it affects their spending or purchasing.) 

The Department of the Interior and Local Government on Monday warned that some of the statements calling for the resignation of the President and for the military to withdraw support from him could be considered seditious. 

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla was reacting to statements made during the rally at the EDSA People Power Monument, largely calling for the President’s resignation amid the corruption scandal involving the national budget and flood control projects.

“That’s close to inciting sedition,” he said. — RF/VBL, GMA Integrated News