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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Lacson: 'Repentance' alone won't wash away corruption

Lacson: 'Repentance' alone won't wash away corruption

Published Sep 16, 2025 12:22 pm

At A Glance

  • Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson echoed the stand of former Taguig City Mayor Lino Cayetano that repentance alone will not be sufficient to remove corruption and other forms of wrongdoing.
Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson (Office of Senator Lacson)
Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson (Office of Senator Lacson)

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Tuesday, September 16 echoed the stand of former Taguig City Mayor Lino Cayetano that repentance alone will not be sufficient to remove corruption and other forms of wrongdoing.

Lacson made the remark on his X account, where he posted a quote card of the former mayor disagreeing with the claim of his brother, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, that Filipinos as a people are guilty of wrongdoing, and that what is important is repentance.

“I agree and associate myself with Taguig City ex-Mayor Lino Cayetano in this regard,” said Lacson, who also heads the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

“I know government officials who committed sins by stealing public funds, repented, stole again and repented again a number of times. In the meantime, people suffer from their belief that absolution comes after repentance,” the senator added.

https://x.com/iampinglacson/status/1967746444821139548

In a Facebook Live post last Sunday, Sen. Cayetano said that as a people: “we're all guilty from vote buying to cheating to stealing to lying.”

Cayetano insisted that what is important is repentance.

But former Mayor Cayetano said this is the kind of statement from “traditional politicians that spark anger.”

The former local chief executive also added that Filipinos are God-fearing and only want the best for their families.

“Hindi likas ang magnakaw, bumili ng boto, magsinungaling, at hindi din solusyon at absolusyon ang pag 'repent' lamang (It is not in Filipinos' nature to steal, buy votes, or lie. Neither is the solution in mere 'repentance'),” the former mayor said. 

“Let’s not normalize corruption. Let’s fight it!” he stressed.

Related Tags

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