Former senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson called for a "political ceasefire" on Saturday, Nov. 23 to allow the nation's leaders to focus on addressing the pressing problems of the country.

In a statement, Lacson says that it is "sad" that the country's top leaders - the President and Vice President - and their respective supporters are engaged in a word war, to the point of threats being made.

"Sa halip na magkaroon ng sulsulan galing sa magkabilang kampo, dapat may proverbial cooler heads na mag-intervene. Kung hindi man magkasundo, magkaroon muna ng 'tigil putukan.' Mas marami tayong problemang hinaharap (Instead of having a word war among the camps involved, cooler heads must intervene. If they cannot reach an agreement, at least have a ceasefire so we can address the country's problems instead of having a word war)," he said in an interview on dwAR radio.

Lacson notes that the country is still reeling from the effects of successive cyclones, the rising prices of goods as well as the weakening of the peso.

Because of this, he said the public must not feel entertained by the word war, as it benefits no one.

"Hindi dapat tayo feeling entertained. Kasi itong mga nangyayari, nakakalungkot ito at di maganda para sa ating bayan (We should not feel entertained. These developments are sad and not good for our nation)," he said.

Lacson is running for senator as an independent candidate, with the credo "Ang tama ay ipaglaban, ang mali ay labanan (What is right must be kept right, what is wrong must be set right)," he added.

Duterte cursed President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez as she held a press conference inside the House of Representatives. 

She also disclosed that she has already made arrangements about targeting the three in case she gets assassinated.