Lacson backs PRRD over PNP radar speed gun anomaly

“First, the President has all the reason to feel aggrieved kasi (because) he’s always been generous sa PNP pagdating sa (to the PNP when it comes to) support; equipment, even salary, allowances, lahat binigay (he gave them all). So we cannot also blame the President to feel that way,” Lacson said in an interview at the Senate. (File Photo: Senator Ping Lacson/Facebook)

MANILA — Senator Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday supported President Rodrigo Duterte over his outrage and subsequent move to remove procurement powers from the Philippine National Police (PNP) following the discovery of the alleged overpriced radar speed guns the PNP plans to buy.

“First, the President has all the reason to feel aggrieved kasi (because) he’s always been generous sa PNP pagdating sa (to the PNP when it comes to) support; equipment, even salary, allowances, lahat binigay (he gave them all). So we cannot also blame the President to feel that way,” Lacson said in an interview at the Senate.

“Regarding the legality of withdrawing (the procurement power), I think the President can always do that, as long as hindi ma-violate ang (it does not violate) RA 9184, the procurement law. And rightly so, kasi kung may ganoong (because if there is that) misbehavior when it involves public funds, dapat lang talaga alisin ang authority (it is just right to remove that authority),” he said.

Lacson said the next step would be for Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to investigate and unmask the perpetrators of the anomalous and “unconscionable” transaction.

“So dapat ito after the President has already announced na wini-withdraw niya ang procurement authority from the PNP and having exposed ang ganoong kalaking overpricing, dapat it should be incumbent upon Sec. Año na gumawa ng investigation and find out who is responsible (After the President has already announced that he was withdrawing the procurement authority from the PNP and having exposed that large overpricing, it should be incumbent upon Sec. Año to conduct an investigation and find out who are responsible),” he said.

Lacson, who was also a former PNP chief, added that punitive actions should be taken against the culprits, as preventive steps and constant reminders do not seem to work effectively as deterrents.

“Dapat ipakita na kung may ganyan dapat talagang makulong, kasi yan ang deterrent. Hanggang walang nakikitang nakukulong sasabihin nila kaya namang malusutan (It should be shown that persons who commit these things would be imprisoned, that’s the deterrent. As long as nobody goes to jail, they would just say that they could get away with it),” he said.

“Hindi lang (It is not enough that) heads should roll, some people should really go to jail,” Lacson said.