Partido Reporma presidential candidate Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson claimed that a demolition job against him is being plotted.
Lacson said the demolition job is reportedly being undertaken by a group supporting another presidential candidate apparently hurt by his anti-"magnanakaw (thief)” narrative being repeatedly spoken by the senator during rallies and other events.
"While I do not have the slightest intention to zero in on any particular person much less other candidates in my 'Ubusin ang Magnanakaw' narrative, I will not be cowed by such reports and threats of black propaganda via the so-called 'Oplan Wasak' being plotted by some groups apparently hurt by my anti-corruption campaign," he pointed out. He did not mention any names.
Lacson, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, is the current chairman of the Senate National Defense and Security Committee.
"I remain determined to stick to my guns in fighting all forms of corruption in government - the kind of corruption that robs our people of their hopes and future," he added.
Citing the information he received, Lacson said a political group bankrolling the smear job is working at the grassroots level.
Lacson said he is not new to such harassment tactics by those he had crossed paths with in the past, having been targeted by an orchestrated character assassination campaign based largely on fake or bogus information.
"For most of my career in public service, I was either eating death threats or smear campaigns for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This is not new to me. But it's high time that the people wake up to the reality that unbridled corruption destroys our nation and the future of our children," Lacson said.