Ping to lead corruption watchdog if defeated

Independent opposition candidate Sen. Panfilo Lacson said yesterday he plans to organize and lead a watchdog group against graft and corruption if he is defeated in the presidential race.

Interviewed on the "Straight Talk" show on ABS-CBN News Channel, Lacson said the group would be composed initially of his supporters and would later include other organizations interested in joining his crusade for good government.

He said in the interest of nation-building, whoever is elected president should listen to valid and credible criticisms about graft and corruption.

Asked by show host Cito Beltran what would it take for him to forget about Jose Pidal, Lacson shot back, "Stop corruption."

"We are not after personalities. The problem is corruption, and Jose Pidal has become the symbol of corruption in our country," he said.

In August and September last year, Lacson made a three-part exposé in the Senate in which he accused First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo of hiding P260 million in supposedly illegal funds in secret bank accounts using the false name Jose Pidal. Arroyo has consistently denied the accusation.

The former Philippine National Police chief said in the spirit of reconciliation offered recently by President Arroyo, and in case she emerges as the winner in the official count, he would support her policies that he thinks would be good for the nation.

But he would criticize those that in his judgment would be contrary to national interest, he said.

Asked if he has any regret in running for president, Lacson said his only regret is, if he is defeated, he won’t be able to show the nation his style of leadership.

"I won’t be able to show, especially to my detractors, that I can lead the country honestly and with integrity, that I can lead by example, that I have the political will to do what needs to be done, no matter who gets hurt. I did it in the Philippine National Police," he said.

He said if he wins the presidency, "I was dead-set to set government right."

"On Day One, I was planning to make an undertaking, a waiver that I, together with my family, would be exempt from the secrecy requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act. I will require the same undertaking from Cabinet members so that those accusing us of graft and corruption can examine our bank accounts. That would set the tone for our anti-corruption drive," he stressed.

He added that he hoped that whoever is elected president would adopt his bank secrecy waiver plan.

Lacson also said based on the unofficial count, it would take divine intervention for him to win the presidency.

But whatever would be the final result, he said his lawyers and supporters are still watching the count "because we owe it to our voters to protect their votes."

He expressed confidence that he would be able to obtain more than three million votes, in which case, he would not be forced to resign from the Senate.

"I made a commitment that if I don’t get three million votes, I would resign. I intend to fulfill that," he said.

If he hurdles that self-imposed obstacle, he said he would continue to give up his P200 million in annual pork barrel allocation as a token contribution to efforts to bring down the budget deficit.

"We have a serious problem about the deficit, which is weighing down economic growth. Besides, I really believe that the pork barrel is evil and is a source of corruption for lawmakers and other officials," he said.