Panfilo "Ping" Lacson (MANILA BULLETIN)

Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial candidate Panfilo "Ping" Lacson admitted to being "saddened" on Saturday, April 12 upon learning about the passing of Sandra Cam.

"She was our whistleblower," the former senator said about Cam.

"I felt saddened when I heard the news of her death. I remember working with her when she was under the protection of the late Archbishop Oscar Cruz, who was a strong advocate against illegal gambling, particularly jueteng," Lacson said in Filipino, in an interview on Bombo Radyo Cebu.

The former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief recalled that Cam served as a "whistleblower" and a witness during the Senate investigation on jueteng and other forms of illegal gambling in the 2000s.

Sometimes, Lacson said he would visit Cam in a safehouse. At the time, she was under the protection of the late Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, who like Lacson was a vocal foe of illegal gambling.

Sandra Cam

Lacson's crusade against illegal gambling dates back to his days in the Philippine Constabulary and PNP. He would decline bribe offers from operators of illegal gambling, including jueteng.

"Not to brag, but I declined offers of bribes wherever I was assigned. I refused bribes from illegal gambling particularly jueteng," he said.