Election Profile

Personal Information

• Age and date of birth: 76 (June 1, 1948)
• Party: Independent
• Highest Educational Attainment: Master in Government Management, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (1995 - 1996)
• Highest Government Position Held: Senator

Summary

Stance on Key Issues

On Poverty, Controlling Inflation, and Jobs

• Pushing for the “Edukasyon Plus” program, providing free tuition, monthly allowance, and internship programs for students to reduce dropout rates and alleviate poverty.
• Vows to focus on providing employment opportunities and capacity building as an integral part of social welfare programs to minimize the need for subsidies.

On Fighting Graft and Corruption

• Proposes that all public officials be exempt from the Bank Secrecy Act to promote transparency.
• Calls for a stop to the overregulation of businesses, which he says has led to corruption by public officials demanding money under the table.

On the West Philippine Sea

• Advocates an independent foreign policy where the Philippines does not sway toward China or the United States but instead cooperates with regional nations that share similar interests.

On The Drug War

• Says that Duterte’s war on drugs was "prostituted" by a rewards system that incentivized authorities for every drug suspect captured.

On Disaster Preparedness

• Calls for a shift in disaster preparedness strategy from reactive to proactive to avoid only acting when calamities strike.
• Questions unspent funds for disaster risk reduction, stressing the need to use these funds for projects that boost resilience to catastrophes and emergencies.

Government Experience / Field of Expertise

• Chairman, PNP Foundation Inc. (2008 - present)
  
  
• Senator (2001 - 2013; 2016 - 2022)
  
  
  • Authored laws including:
    • RA 11055 - National ID Law
    • RA 11479 - The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020
    • RA 11469 - Bayanihan to Heal as One Act
    • RA 11053 - Anti-Hazing Law of 2018
    • RA 11709 - Strengthening Professionalism in the Armed Forces of the Philippines
    • RA 9485 - Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007
    • RA 10969 - Free Irrigation Act of 2018
• Presidential Assistant on Rehabilitation and Recovery (2013 - 2015)
  
  
• Chief, Philippine National Police (PNP) (Nov. 1999 - Jan. 2001)
  
  
• Chief, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (1998 - 2001)
  
  
• Project Officer, Special Project Alpha (1996 - 1997)
  
  
• Chief, Task Force Habagat, PACC (1992 - 1995)
  
  
• Provincial Director, Laguna, PNP (Feb - July 1992)
  
  
• Commander, Cebu Metrodiscom (1989 - 1992)
  
  
• Provincial Commander, Isabela PC (1988 - 1989)
  
  
• PC-INP Anti-Carapping Task Force (1986 - 1988)
  
  
• Metrocom Intelligence and Security Group (1971 - 1986)
  
  

Issues and Controversies

• 1995 Kuratong Baleleng Case:
  
  
  • Charged as principal suspect in the murder of 11 Kuratong Baleleng gang members, but the case was dismissed in 2012 due to lack of probable cause.
• Dacer-Corbito Case (2000 Murder Case):
  
  
  • Accused of orchestrating the murders of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito.
  • Fled to Hong Kong in 2010 but later returned after the Court of Appeals cleared him of all charges.
  • Claimed he fled to avoid harassment from the Department of Justice and then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
• Allegations of Martial Law Torture:
  
  
  • Historian Alfred McCoy alleged that Lacson was part of an elite torture group during Martial Law, but Lacson has denied this.

Family Members in Government

• None