Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 17) — Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said he is not bothered by reports of a demolition job dubbed “Oplan Wasak” led by a group backing another candidate supposedly hurt by Lacson saying thieves should not be elected into office.
“While I do not have the slightest intention to zero in on any particular person much less other candidates in my ‘Ubusin ang Magnanakaw’ narrative, I will not be cowed by such reports and threats of black propaganda via the so-called ‘Oplan Wasak’ being plotted by some groups apparently hurt by my anti-corruption campaign,” Lacson said in a statement Thursday.
At a meet the press event earlier, Lacson said his team was validating the information on the alleged plot and would confront the concerned parties once they had all the facts.
He said he is used to fighting black propaganda that in the end, gets corrected anyway.
Lacson stressed that his earlier statement of not wanting thieves elected into office was a general statement, but left it to others how they wanted to interpret it.
“Wala akong pinatutungkulan kung sino yung tatamaan. Kung nasasaktan sila, baka magnanakaw sila…. Kung may tinatamaaan, bahala sila, basta wala wala akong pinatutungkulan kahit na sino,” he said.
[Translation: I am not singling out anyone. If someone gets hurt, then maybe they’re thieves… If they feel they’re getting attacked, that’s up to them, but I am not singling out anyone.]
READ: Lacson warns voters against electing ‘thieves’ into office
At the same event, Lacson said he was not backing out of the presidential race, and that he made that commitment to his running mate Senate President Tito Sotto the moment they decided to run.
“Hindi kami magbabago hanggang May 9. We’ll go through the exercise hanggang sa logical conclusion. Manalo, matalo hindi kami…mag-iiwanan,” he said.
[Translation: We will not change anything until May 9. We’ll go through the exercise until it comes to a logical conclusion. Win or lose, we won’t abandon each other.]
Lacson added they owe that to those who supported them.
