Ping Lacson urges PNP, AFP to remain professional
REMAIN professional and loyal to the country.
This was former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson’s message to the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines, amid reported calls for partisan activity following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Lacson also said Saturday that members of the PNP and AFP should double-check such calls especially those made through social media, because of the proliferation of fake news.
“They should remain professional and loyal to their duty. That is the best message,” he said in Filipino in an interview on DZRH radio.
“In this day and age of information technology, fake news spreads fast. And we know that is in their training to conduct fact-checking first. If there are reports of partisan activity, they should not get involved,” he added.
Lacson had served in the AFP as a member of the Philippine Constabulary (PC) from 1971 to 1991. He also served in the PNP, heading the institution from 1999 to 2001.
Meanwhile, Lacson said he is studying possible legislation to crack down on fake news, noting the current laws against cyber-libel may need more teeth.
Unless laws are strengthened against fake news and cyber-libel, he said these threats may undermine our culture and destroy good manners and right conduct.
“We must focus on penalizing the spread of fake news. This threatens our culture, and contributes to the destruction of our good manners and right conduct,” he said.
