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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'First and only time': Lacson explains photo with Discayas

'First and only time': Lacson explains photo with Discayas

Published Oct 1, 2025 10:37 am
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson on Wednesday, Oct. 1, clarified the circumstances behind a photo circulating online showing him with members of the Discaya family, including contractors Curlee and Sara Discaya.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson (Facebook)
The photo was posted on Facebook by Cavite 4th district Rep. Francisco "Kiko" Barzaga. In his post, he said: "Please investigate the validity of this image of Senator Lacson’s private meeting with the Discayas."
In a statement, Lacson said the photo was taken in the last week of April, as the 90-day campaign period for the 2025 midterm elections was about to end. A campaign supporter from Davao City, Fred Villaroman, whose late father, PBGen. Francisco Villaroman served under him in the Philippine National Police and later headed the security detail of then-Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, brought the younger Discaya to his office in Taguig City.
Lacson said the young Discaya, a nominee of the party-list group Ako Pinoy (or Ako’y Pinoy), invited him to attend what they described as a grand rally in one of the Davao provinces. The nominee was later joined by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Discaya.
According to Lacson, he declined the invitation for two reasons: out of respect for his friend Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, whose nephew Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto was running against Mrs. Discaya, and because other party-list groups were also including his name in their sample ballots.
“I did not know the Discayas and that was the first and only time outside of the Blue Ribbon committee hearings that I met them,” Lacson said, noting that the meeting lasted about 15 to 20 minutes and ended with the group photo.
“I hope this clarifies whatever insinuations are being attached to this said photograph,” he added.
The Discaya couple is embroiled in the multibillion-peso flood control project scandal being investigated by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee headed by Lacson.

Related Tags

ping lacson curlee discaya sara discaya Kiko Barzaga flood control probe
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