Panfilo Lacson

Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson's credo is: "Ang tama, ipaglaban. Ang mali, labanan."

 Lacson has dedicated over 50 years to public service across law enforcement, legislation, and humanitarian work. 

Renowned for his strong stance against corruption, financial anomalies, and organized crime, he has championed fiscal discipline and transparency.

A graduate of the PMA Matatag Class of 1971, Lacson rose through the ranks of the Philippine Constabulary and the Philippine National Police (PNP). Inspired by his humble upbringing in Cavite—where his father, a jeepney driver, faced extortion—he made anti-corruption his lifelong mission.

He has helped solve high-profile kidnap-for-ransom cases (notably rescuing heiress Robina Gokongwei in 1981, famously refusing the reward money) and led the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission's Task Force Habagat.

 As PNP Chief from 1999 to 2001, he instituted a strict "No-Take Policy" on illegal gambling protection money and eliminated extortionist ("kotong") cops. He enforced physical fitness standards, decentralized 85% of the PNP budget directly to operating units, and recovered 600 carnapped vehicles used by personnel.

In 2019 he was conferred by the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) a Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa (2019) for his fight against corruption.

In 2022, he received a  Lifetime Achievement Award from the Philippine Military Academy for over five decades of service.

Serving 18 years as a senator across the 12th to 18th Congresses, Lacson established himself as the upper chamber's primary watchdog of the national budget.

Lacson famously refused his annual ₱200-million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocation, saving the National Treasury ₱2.4 billion over 12 years. His rigorous scrutiny of the national budget successfully purged over ₱300 billion in dubious congressional insertions and "pork barrel" items.

Some of his key authored and sponsored legislations include:

Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 (RA 11479), and

Anti-Hazing Law of 2018 (RA 11053).

National ID Law (RA 11055);

Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 (RA 9485), and

Anti-Money Laundering Act amendments (RA 9160, RA 10927).

Lacson also initiated key Senate investigations into major government anomalies, including the ₱728-million fertilizer fund scam, the "Hello Garci" election tapes, the PNP "chopper scam," and endemic corruption within the Bureau of Customs.