When you’re on the road with your spouse, do you talk? Speedy and I do. In fact, if we don’t talk, that means we’re having a tiff.
Last Thursday, we were on our way to Quezon City (primarily to buy the Lensbaby Control Freak for Sam for her birthday next month) and the conversation veered toward Ping Lacson. I think Speedy asked if I had heard that Lacson was in the country and whether I had any idea if that was true. I don’t know if it’s true. I can’t even make an informed guess.
However, I do find it strange — no, curious would be the more correct word — that reports that Lacson has returned began after the appointment of Lito Banayo and Magtanggol Gatdula (as chief of the National Food Administration and head of the National Bureau of Investigation, respectively) to the Aquino administration. And that was where the Ping Lacson topic ended. But that was not where my train of thought ended.
For those unfamiliar with the background of the case, Ping Lacson, incumbent senator and former Director-General of the Philippine National Police, fled the country after reports that he would be charged with the murder of publicist Bubby Dacer. Banayo and Gatdula are (were?) close associates of Lacson.
Call it coincidence, if you like. For me, it sort of contextualizes the rumors and makes them appear to be more than rumors. Still, sans physical confirmation that Lacson has in fact returned to the country, they are still rumors.
I won’t claim total objectivity. I don’t like Lacson; I don’t like Lito Banayo. It’s a gut thing. I don’t know what qualifications Banayo has to be appointed as NFA administrator. He was (is?) a newspaper columnist. I am aware that he has served in government before in positions that did not particularly require credentials and skills but positions that are usually given to close associates in the tradition of political utang na loob — such as political adviser to then president Joseph Estrada.
Then, he managed the senatorial campaign of Lacson in 2001 and his presidential bid in 2004. After that, he was with Chiz Escudero. And remember that it was primarily the camp of Escudero which split the Noynoy-Mar and Erap-Binay tickets and came up with Noy-Bi.
The guy just seems to have the knack for attaching himself to the “right” people and the even bigger knack for shifting political loyalties when the political tide turns. Some would consider it a talent. If you have the reputation for being a shrewd political strategist and people want to hire you for your “talent” then political color is irrelevant. It’s just work, as some would say, and everyone has to make a living. I find it sleazy. Like being a hired gun. I liked him even less after he was caught plagiarizing a blogger — something he apologized for later but which neither excused nor lessen the seriousness of the intellectual theft.
So, what is Lito Banayo doing in the Aquino administration? What deep dark secrets does he know that he is better off being a political ally than an enemy? Remember the saying, “Keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer”? Part of me thinks that’s the reason for his appointment. But the other part of me says it is much, much more than that.
This is the man who is now part of an exclusive circle — all the President’s men. Combine that with the fact that the NBI — the agency tasked with gathering evidence and solving cases involving threats to the State — is now headed by another known Lacson associate and what do we have? Will Lacson really stand trial?
nope. definitely not. never. ever. if ever, it’ll most likely turn out ala erap… pardoned. tsk tsk…
what qualifications does he (Banayo) have to run the NFA? and if Lacson is really innocent, then why flee the country?
You know, I searched and searched for a bio of Lito Banayo and found none except for previous government posts held (which really don’t count as qualifications for the NFA post).
Lacson said he was fleeing from persecution by the Arroyo administration. But then, he’s a senator and fleeing is tantamount to saying our legal system sucks. Imagine that coming from a senator…
By the way things are going, if Lacson does stand for trial my guess is that he would be acquitted. And the trial itself would so drawn out, the public and most of media would lose interest.
In other words, the change the lemmings hoped for, won’t manifest in this particular case.
Makes me wonder why Lacson is so darn rich that he can hop from one country to another just like that.
Remember the high ranking police who brought cash to Russia? Undeniably, he has properties outside the country.
Lacson with considerable experience, connections and power speaks why he can disappear with impunity. But that is only for a while. His weakness is his ego the size of Mayon volcano. He cannot live like a hermit. Unfortunately the legal system favors the accused in a neutral administration (unlike in Arroyo’s time) so he will resurface in due time. Like Marcoses, he will re-invent himself through the legal system. The script is laid out.
correction:
Undeniably, Lacson (powerful than the Euro police) has properties outside the country.
What else is new? If you are a big enough bad fish, you escape the net. The powers-that-be made the net big enough for them to slide through and small enough to catch the small fish to keep the “masa” content that the “system” is working. When are we going to wake up?
somebody told me that he never left, he’s hiding in cavite all along. he’s untouchable.
“But then, he’s a senator and fleeing is tantamount to saying our legal system sucks. Imagine that coming from a senator…” — such a good role model, no?
sheesh
i don’t know who this guy ping lacson is so i can’t comment .
i just want to know your take on miguel syjuco’s prizewinning new book ILUSTRADO.
it’s a very entertaining novel but what is the reality ? i’ve been away from the old country too long
but i try to “keep in touch” through your website.
many thanks -
tea
Haven’t read it yet.
It’s really hard to accuse Lacson of any wrongdoings. First, this guy really knows the trick on how to look clean. Sometimes, I even think that this gay, err guy, is operating with similarity with J Edgar Hoover, a former and the longest FBI Director (he was also rumored to be a gay). What I mean, is perhaps, this guy knows a lot of things that he can blackmail everybody.
I’ve read it somewhere that he openly admitted that he paid P2 million from his personal fund for the Garci tape. A very small price to pay according to his camp in exchange of exposing GMA’s corruption.
I remember that Joker Arroyo’s blue ribbon committee was initially very keen on investigating Lacson for the alleged crimes that he has committed. No report and closure was released eventually.
For his being gay – it’s neither her nor there. One thing for sure, you might call this one anything you want to.
He was once interviewed by Jessica Soho on his preparing himself for his routine as a senator (first time he was elected). According to him, he would start his routine by deciding on what to wear for the day. At least three selections would be available and he would lay them down one at a time on top of his bed.
Then the hygiene. He explained every chemicals that he is using to JS – perfume and everything. He always make it sure that they’re in one medium size black bag that according to him is always by his side. May kasama pang lipstick.
For a very good supply of amusement, there is this one unreferenced internet article “The Lies, the Facts, and the Truth About Ping Lacson” – from angelfiredotcom
And there is this one also – “Lacson Blinks: Why ping Cowered Before US Court” – from philnewsdotcom
A snippet:
“If indeed Lacson felt he was right to withhold the amount now demanded by the court from Ms. Pelaez in order to pay for the customs duties of the transaction, then why wouldn’t he want to argue that point in Judge Miller’s court? Why wouldn’t he want to make it known to the judge and to the whole world that he was only looking after the interest of the Philippine Government. $37,000.00 dollars is after all, a lot of money in a third-world economy. Instead he chose not to. He chose not to because he knew that if he showed his face in that court, he would be jumping from the frying pan into the fire!
Who knows what else Blanquita’s lawyer Rodel Rodis would have asked him under oath? Well, Ping had a pretty good idea of what Attorney Rodis was going to ask because Rodis published some of those questions a week before in the newspaper. Among the many questions Ping would have had to answer were:
“When he purchased his home at 1011 Laguna Seca Loop in Chula Vista, California on March 1, 1996, where did he get the money to buy it? When he sold it on July 20, 1999, where did he deposit the money? Did he then buy the property at 2305 Sea Island Place in Chula Vista? What other properties did he purchase?”
You’re entitled to your opinion, but bringing up his supposed homosexuality is NOT relevant in any way to the case. Sexual orientation is just that.
Casanovas and male hearththrobs throughout the ages have always been vain; David Beckham, for example–choosing good clothes and being clean does not a homosexual make. Argumentum ad hominem. Herring.
I think He cannot live like a hermit. Unfortunately the legal system favors the accused in a neutral administration (unlike in Arroyo’s time) so he will resurface in due time. thanx for the post.
Do guys even know lito Banayo? He may not be as popular as other politicians but I know he’s going to do a good job as admin of NFA. My uncle is well connected to most politicians in the Philippines and he once told me that even before lito Banayo got appointed a Chinese businessman went up to him asking him a favor and in return he will be given millions of pesos but lito Banayo turned the offer down. I know for sure that he is not a corrupt simply because I heard he is selling two of his condos just to give a better life for his kids. Now let’s talk about ping lacson, everybody is accusing him of killing bubby dacer when you guys should be pointing fingers at ERAP! Ping is hiding simply because they all know who killed dacer but they just don’t have an evidence and things would just be complicated! Erap asked Michael Ray Aquino to kill dacer. So now you guys know who really killed dacer!
Where’s the evidence. Even your story about what your uncle knows about Mr. Banayo is hearsay. BIASED.