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Tuesday, August 20, 2002
Ping says presidential image Palace's own doing
A BESIEGED senator Panfilo Lacson said Monday that if there were anyone to blame for creating his image as a presidential contender, it would have to be the present administration.
"I can be a presidential candidate but not of my own doing, after all the attention I've been getting," Lacson said.
He said since he submitted his certificate of candidacy, "attacks coming from all directions, particularly coming from this administration" had not stopped.
Lacson, apparently not happy with the cases filed against him by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), blamed his problems to his being the most formidable contender for the 2004 presidential elections.
"The public could not think of any reason why personalities that could pose a threat to her presidential bid are being harassed," he said.
In a privilege speech, he belied all the accusations made against him by NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco, whom he referred to as a "cretin."
He said the assets Wycoco mentioned in the perjury case filed against him were all mentioned in his statement of assets and liabilities for 2001.
"In fact, I volunteered that very same information about the investment in an interpellation of Sen. Rene Cayetano," he said. He was referring to the P4.170 million-investment he made in the United States.
He said he could not understand why the present administration has been aiming at him since he started his political move.
"These (charges) are all lies told from the outset. Why single me out? There are 1.5 million government employees all over the country, why not scrutinize their SAL as well?" he said.
He said that if he was indeed involved in drug trafficking, "how come my name does not appear in the handbook," Lacson said, referring to a handbook containing the order of battle of the entire intelligence network on all drug traffickers.
"This Mr. Wycoco is a congenital liar. He was clearly lying through his teeth in announcing this case against me," he said.
The NBI has alleged that Lacson failed to file his statement of assets and liabilities and net worth (SALNW) for the years 1995, 1997, 1998, and 2000.
He was also charged with non-disclosure of business interests. His SALNW for 2001 allegedly did not include his interest in Orient Lights LLC in the United States, a firm reportedly engaged in import-export trading, specifically of luxury cars from Europe and Japan. (Joshua Dancel) |
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