Robert T. Wagner
Clark Field, Pampanga
Nov. 22nd, 2025
Manila Times’ columnist, Rigoberto “Bobi” Tiglao, attempted to shame and defame Senator Lacson in a hit piece intended to rouse anti-BBM factions and generate clicks for his web site. The effort backfired, miserably, and shall serve as a cautionary example of how journalists should conduct themselves when writing political commentary.
In the often turbulent and compromise-filled halls of the Philippine Senate, few figures stand out as unyielding champions of good governance, transparency, and anti-corruption. Senator Panfilo “Ping” Morena Lacson is one such rarity – a man whose career echoes the legendary moral compass and intellectual rigor of the late Senate President Jovito Salonga.
Salonga, often hailed as the “Nation’s Fiscalizer” during the dark days of martial law and beyond, was a beacon of principled opposition, fearlessly exposing graft and defending democratic institutions against authoritarian overreach. Decades later, Lacson has emerged as a modern equivalent, a no-nonsense reformer who’s like has not been seen since Salonga’s era.
Lacson’s journey from a disciplined Philippine Military Academy graduate (Class of 1971) to a tough-as-nails Philippine National Police chief, and now a four-term senator (including his return this year as an independent), is marked by an uncompromising stance against corruption. As PNP chief from 1999 to 2001, he imposed a strict “no-take” policy, cracked down on rogue elements, and restored public trust in a force plagued by scandal.
In the Senate, he authored landmark laws such as amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act, the Anti-Red Tape Act, and the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act — tools that have strengthened the fight against graft and inefficiency.
Like Salonga, who bravely opposed Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s dictatorship and faced detention and exile for his principles, Lacson operates with a creed: “What is right must be kept right; what is wrong must be set right.” His recent actions in the Senate probes into budget anomalies exemplify this.
As Senate President Pro Tempore, Lacson has fearlessly pursued truth in high-profile investigations, relying on evidence and logic rather than political expediency. Amid explosive allegations by fugitive Ako Bicol Representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co that 100 billion PHP in questionable budget insertions were tied to kickbacks given to President Marcos Jr., Lacson intrepidly dismantled such claims in an interpellation on “General Principles” of the budget measure in the Senate.
He pointed to presidential vetoes of suspicious items totaling over P1 billion and testimonies from key witnesses like former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, who contradicted Co’s narrative of direct presidential involvement. Lacson’s measured, fact-based defense – insisting that misuse of the President’s name by subordinates does not implicate the chief executive – underscores his commitment to due process and fairness, even when it draws fire from partisan corners.
This principled stand has earned Lacson the moniker “Lion of the Senate,” a fierce guardian of institutional integrity in an age where political loyalty often trumps evidence. Just as Salonga was vilified by Marcos Sr.’s propagandists for his anti-corruption crusades, Lacson now faces similar vitriol from detractors unwilling to accept evidence over sensationalism.
A prime sample is the vicious opinion piece published on November 21st in The Manila Times by columnist Rigoberto “Bobi” Tiglao, entitled “Lacson Defense of Marcos Jr. so Stupid, so Sickening.” In this scathing and inflammatory column, Tiglao accuses Lacson of acting as a “shameless” PR man and “pretend-lawyer” for the President, mocking his reliance on witness testimonies and executive branch records as illogical excuses.
Tiglao also insinuates without basis or attestation that Lacson may have “recruited” witnesses for personal gain or to shield higher powers. Such language, laden with personal insults and unsubstantiated innuendo, crosses the line from legitimate, journalistic criticism into the sleazy realm of outright character assassination.
What makes Tiglao’s Pièce De Merde particularly heinous and potentially libelous is its timing and tone amid ongoing Senate inquiries, where Lacson is duty-bound to seek facts. By labeling a senator’s evidence-supported statements as “stupid” and “sickening,” Tiglao not only undermines parliamentary privilege but risks poisoning public discourse with malice.
Prominent legal experts across the country have condemned the column as defamatory, arguing that it meets the elements of libel under Philippine law (Revised Penal Code Article 355), including malicious imputation of a vice or defect tending to cause dishonor. Calls have mounted for The Manila Times to salvage its reputation as an objective news outlet by mitigating the effects of Tiglao’s unfortunate rant.
Allowing a columnist to launch unbridled personal attacks on a sitting senator, especially one leading anti-corruption probes, erodes public trust in media and invites legal repercussions. As one observer noted, if unchecked, such “journalism” devolves into propaganda, harming the very democratic institutions Salonga and Lacson dedicated their lives to protecting.
In a legacy newspaper like The Manila Times, founded in 1898 and still considered a pillar of responsible journalism, publishing such a venomous attack raises serious questions about its editorial standards. In this instance, a swift move toward redemption, or at the very least retraction with an apology from Tiglao, would be the proverbial better part of decorum.
In an era of fake news and heavily divided politics, figures like Ping Lacson remind us why the Senate needs fearless, evidence-driven leaders who stand for truth over convenience, regardless of how painful that may be. His defense of due process in the face of Tiglao’s childish attention-seeking only solidifies his place as Salonga’s spiritual successor: a rare senator whose integrity shines brightest when the attacks are fiercest.
The Philippines is better for it.
