Claim: Former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said the following statement in a quote card circulating online:
“The disbursement of confidential funds uses code and aliases dahil sa confidentiality nature ng pagkagastusan (because of the confidential nature of expenses). But the same requires an intelligence project where details of expenses are stipulated.”
“Now you know the who’s and why’s of Mary Grace Piattos and Kokoy Villamin. Don’t show your ignorance by asking the true identities of these persons. Otherwise, hindi na yan (that’s no longer) confidential!”
Why we fact-checked this: The Facebook post bearing the claim was posted by an account with 10,000 followers. It has garnered 1,700 shares and 171 comments as of writing. Other users have posted similar quote cards.
The facts: The quote card attributed to Lacson is fake. While the first half of the quote card paraphrases Lacson’s response during a November 27 interview on Net 25, the former senator never stated what is depicted in the succeeding sentences of the fake quote card. The mention of “Mary Grace Piattos” and “Kokoy Villamin” were also brought up by the interviewers, not Lacson.
On December 13, the former senator released a statement about the quote card, calling it “fake and obviously manipulated.”
“A quote card has been circulating on social media and online chat groups, containing quotes that suggest I have spoken out against asking for the identities of persons involved in projects using intelligence funds. It is fake and obviously manipulated,” Lacson said.
Confidential funds: During the interview, Lacson was asked about the auditing process for confidential funds amid lawmakers’ inquiries into Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged misuse of public funds.
Duterte has refused to explain whether suspicious identities listed as recipients of her confidential funds were “pseudonyms,” citing concerns that it would compromise intelligence operations.
In the interview, Lacson said there must be a paper trail through which the identities behind aliases can be verified during the auditing process, especially when the intelligence projects have concluded and can be declassified.
Lacson was asked about his views as a former senator who served in the upper chamber for three terms. He is seeking a Senate comeback in the upcoming midterm elections, running under the “Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas” (Alliance for a New Philippines) administration slate endorsed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Previous fact-checks: The false post circulated as tensions between Marcos and Duterte have ramped up in recent months, with the Vice President warning Marcos that if she gets killed, so will they. Duterte has since been under fire for her statements and now faces two impeachment complaints.
Rappler has debunked other false claims about Duterte’s use of confidential funds:
– Shay Du/Rappler.com
Shay Du is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.
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