What can you say about the possible return of Sen. Panfilo Lacson to the country?

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: It is only a possibility. He may opt not to return at all. Life outside is rosy good, why change it?

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: Finally, the cat is out of the bag. The one I’m referring to here is Lacson.

A sign of trust in P-Noy’s administration

Ed Gulmatico, Bacolod City: His possible return is an indication of trust in President Noynoy’s administration. This will now be a testing ground on how justice will take its course in the new administration.

Dr. Jose Balcanao, Benguet: Lacson did not believe that there was fair play in the administration of justice in PGMA’s administration. He sensed political persecution and thus went into hiding. Now, he strongly believes that he will get a fair treatment in court.

Jesus Mendoza, Pangasinan: Lacson fled the country because he could not expect justice from Arroyo administration. His return indicates his trust in the justice system under Aquino.

Elmo Cruz, Manila: I wonder what the difference would be between the Arroyo and the Aquino administration with regard to the judicial system when the presidency is not involved in the judicial function? Am I to believe that the separation of power among the executive, legislative and the judiciary is just on paper?

Jayson Biadog, Mandaluyong City: It’s reasonable for his own safety because he believes that he could not have attained a fair trial with President Arroyo still in power.

Johann Lucas, Quezon City: Like any other citizen, Ping can expect the rule of law to be religiously observed. He must reassure the public that he is ready to return and face his accusers since the administration that he has criticized is no longer in power.

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: It’s expected that Lacson would return, and it would be a test for the incoming administration. I have my doubts that nothing will come out of this case.

Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City: The return of Sen. Lacson is a sign that the climate of change has started and the senator feels that he will have a fair trial under P-Noy.

He thinks the enemy of his enemy is his ally

Artemio Tipon, Parañaque City: My gut feeling is that Sen. Lacson will return only if Pres. Aquino assures him that he will not be prosecuted for the murder of Dacer.

Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: Maybe Sen. Lacson thinks that P-Noy is malleable and therefore easier to manipulate. Maybe he thinks that the enemy of his enemy is his ally. Abangan!

He has an outstanding warrant of arrest

Roger Caravana, Bulacan: Sen. Lacson, as I understand has an outstanding warrant of arrest issued by the court in a double murder case, which is non-bailable.

Ruben Viray, Antipolo City: Great, he can now answer in court all charges hurled against him. There’s nothing to fear now as long as he surrenders himself peacefully to the authorities because of the warrant of arrest now in full force. I believe that the new administration will give him fair trial on the murder case filed against him. Let justice now prevail.

Flight is a sign of guilt

Leonard Villa, Batac City: It’s long overdue. If Lacson is innocent as he claims, why did he leave his country as fast as lightning? As the saying goes, “Flight is a sign of guilt”.

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: He should have returned and faced the music even before, if really he is not guilty of any involvement in the gruesome Corbito-Dacer double murder case.

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: Of course naman. Mahirap yata ang TNT. If Lacson is not guilty, then by all means he should prove himself innocent in the proper forum. Guilty or not, he must face the music.

Col Dencio Acop (Ret), Baguio City: The return of Sen. Panfilo Lacson to the country will be a positive development for Philippine justice. Lacson should not have run in the first place. What he did has a number of negative implications. I think it will be good for the senator to surface so that he can at least refute the accusation like any citizen should, especially one who of high rank. The unjust condition Lacson is so afraid of is no longer valid as GMA is no longer in charge but President P-Noy. Let’s go courage, integrity and loyalty.

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: All I can say is that he wouldn’t leave the country if he were not guilty. Ngayon, babalik na siya kasi kaibigan niya ang bagong Presidente? Kapal naman.

Time to face his accusers

Jimmy Donton, Puerto Princesa City: He’s a Senator of the Republic. It’s the best thing to do to face his accusers and defend himself. Let the court give its final judgment on the Dacer-Corbito double murder case.

June Deoferio, Cavite: It’s the right time to return to our country to face and answer all the accusations against him especially the Dacer-Corbito double murder.

Richard Decena, Quezon City: Sa pagbabalik ni Sen. Lacson, magkakaalaman na kung sino talaga ang utak at may motibo sa Dacer-Corbito murder case.

Louella Brown, Baguio City: The possible return of Sen. Panfilo Lacson to the country may shed more light on his real involvement in the Dacer-Corbito double murder case.

Arvin Padual, Quezon City: Sen. Panfilo Lacson should return to the country and be man enough to face his trial for the Dacer-Corbito case. He must prove that he is not guilty.

Manny Cordeta, Marikina City: I could sense that Sen. Lacson is man enough to face the music, and if he has nothing to fear or hide, hope and pray for a fair trial relative to the Dacer-Corbito murder case he’d been implicated in almost a decade ago. Doing so, the honorable senator might end up victorious.

Ernesto Oliquiano, Las Piñas City: Sen. Lacson can’t hide forever and he knows that. He was just waiting for the right time and now that we have a new President, it’s very timely for him to come home and face the charges against him. With Noynoy Aquino at the helm, he can be sure that he’ll have a fair trial.

Romeo Caubat, Masbate: Sen. Lacson shouldn’t be a coward. He’s been a fugitive from justice. Face the music, unpalatable as it may be. You can run but you can’t hide.

Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte: It would be a tough and haunting decision. But it’s still the best option for him to come home, to face his accusers, and to answer the charges against him.

I can’t believe he’ll face his demons

M. Sunico, Caloocan City: Ping Lacson has always spoken with a forked tongue. I can’t believe he will return to face his demons. He said he never indulged in corruption. He can’t accumulate all that cash by simply being Chief of PNP. He said he’d never run for public office. He did. He said he’d never skip the country. He did. He said he never killed. His direct subordinates are witnesses to these fables and these were the reasons why he ran for President. Fortunately, he lost.

I see him being cleared of culpability

Benjamin Nillo, Las Piñas City: Under Pres. Noynoy’s presidency, a not-guilty verdict for Sen. Lacson is in the offing. He will be home very soon for obvious reasons.

Josh Pacatang, Dipolog City: In all likelihood, Sen. Panfilo Lacson will have his day in court and he will most likely be acquitted by an impartial judge.

He’s looking at jail time

Rene Poder, Manila: Unless he has powerful friends in the new administration who are willing to stain their reputations, he faces jail time here.

Edwin Castillo, Tanauan Cit:y Sen. Lacson is a fugitive from justice. He should be in jail together with Erap for the Dacer-Corbito double murder case.

Rey Onate, Palayan City: He must be arrested and brought to court to bring an end to the double murder case where he is implicated.

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: If Lacson returns, it only proves that he had no guts to face his cases under the GMA administration. Let’s hope that Lacson is arrested and jailed to pay for the killing of Dacer and Corbito. –

He may have struck a deal

Ishmael Q. Calata, Parañaque City: The return of Sen. Panfilo Lacson is, I believe, mere speculation. He is accused of an unbailable crime and, therefore, he will either return incognito or come via a normal entry point into the country with hands thrust in front of him for a ready pair of handcuffs held by an arresting officer waiting for him. Unless there comes a negotiated deal prior to his return, there is no way he can come back through a visible entry point and evade arrest. We would welcome the possibility of that return to test the action on him under the new administration. If I remember right, he made a statement to the effect that he was afraid that he would not be given a fair trial under the Arroyo administration.

Ferdinand Rafer, Cavite: If it is true, then he must have an arrangement with the new administration that he will not be arrested when he comes back. It’s justice, Philippine-style.

Ignacio Anacta, Metro Manila: As an expert in police matters and intelligence gathering, Sen. Panfilo Lacson may possess documentary evidence on big-time corruption. If so, he can strike a deal with the administration of P-Noy to come back and assist in the fight against graft and corruption in exchange for a reasonable handling of the senator’s alleged crime. In the game of chess, it’s oftentimes favorable to sacrifice a rook in order to catch the queen.

Just wait for Ping’s return to power

Col Ben Paguirigan Jr., Ret., Zamboanga City: Sen. Panfilo Lacson is a former PNP chief, so is it any wonder?

Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: The guy is a genius and plans his capers 10 or 20 steps ahead of the law. Just wait for Ping’s return to power soon. –

A hero’s welcome is in the offing

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: I wouldn’t even be surprised if he is accorded a ticker tape parade like a conquering hero, knowing the “weather-weather lang” Pinoy mindset.

Leandro Tolentino, Batangas City: A welcome committee adequately organized by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption would be appropriate to greet the senator upon his return.

It’s his right to come home

Edwin Chinel Monares, Rizal: He is afforded all the rights to return as a Filipino citizen. As to the cases involving his person, he has to face them and prove his innocence in accordance with due process.

Felix Ramento, US:A: It’s every Filipino’s right, welcomed or otherwise, to return to our country.

J.R. Mondonedo Jr,. Parañaque City: Whether he did something wrong or not, he is still a Filipino citizen and has the right to return to his own country. I believe he deserves a fair trial. I find him very interesting and I think he is really a nice guy.

He can now go back to work

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: It would be a good move if Sen. Lacson returns to the country. First, he can clear his name. Second, with our justice system, it will take years before he is convicted, if at all. While there is no decision, he can continue practicing his profession, experiences and knowledge for the benefit of the country and people.

Lucas Banzon Madamba, USA: He should return to the country to resume his work.

Why return?

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: If he is man enough, he will face the music. But why return when he is having a good time touring the world and away from his problems?

Baptism of fire for Sec. De Lima

Concepcion Gaspar, Laoag City: Lacson’s return will surely resurrect the Corbito-Dacer case and at the same time will serve as a baptism of fire on the part of Justice Sec. Leila de Lima. We expect a blitzkrieg prosecution and conviction or acquittal without any pressure from influential people.

R. Los Baños, Las Piñas City: Sen. Lacson is charged with a non-bailable offense. Whether he will be jailed or not when he returns will be a serious test of the incoming administration’s sense of justice. I think that justice will be better served with Leila de Lima at the helm and Lacson could be having nightmares with that.

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: Good. This will now serve as a test case as to whether or not our judicial system can dispense justice equally without fear or favor, to fully appreciate the dictum, “Nobody is above the law”. It must be noted that he has an outstanding “unbailable warrant of arrest” issued by a competent court that could not be quashed easily by a mere affiliation with the man in power as the latter is not the law. Abangan na lang ang susunod na kabanata.

Justice is for the rich and powerful

Cris Rivera, Rizal: It’s a sad reality in our system and quite a common occurrence, that the moneyed and powerful can toy with the laws of the Constitution.

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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