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REFLECTION

Ping Lacson Is Back—And Frankly, We Need Him More Than Ever

July 22, 20256 min read
Cover image for Ping Lacson Is Back—And Frankly, We Need Him More Than Ever

So, Ping Lacson made it back to the Senate. Three years after quietly stepping away, he’s now sitting in that chamber again—and this time, I’m paying even closer attention. Because in the middle of a bloated budget, pork returning with a vengeance, and a Senate filled with more familiar faces than fresh ideas, Lacson’s comeback feels less like nostalgia and more like a reminder: there are still a few people who don’t treat public office like a stage or a business.

This Win Says a Lot

Lacson didn’t run with fireworks. He ran as an independent under the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas coalition—yes, that’s the same coalition caught in the tug-of-war between the Marcos and Duterte factions. Most people expected the admin slate to dominate. But they didn’t. Only 6 out of 11 candidates made it. And yet, there was Lacson, comfortably back in the Magic 12.

That’s not just name recall. That’s unfinished business. That’s voters remembering what he brings to the table: a sharp eye for the budget, no tolerance for nonsense, and a track record that doesn’t need inflation.

But this win hits differently when you zoom out and look at who didn’t make it. Heidi Mendoza—the woman who fought corruption inside COA and ran her campaign with less than ₱3 million—barely made it to the top 20. Luke Espiritu, who stood up for workers and spoke sense in every debate he joined, placed even lower. These were candidates with substance, experience, and clear stands on public issues. And yet, they got sidelined while entertainers and loyalists grabbed seats.

He’s Not New to This

Lacson’s no saint. But if there’s one thing you can’t take from him, it’s the way he treats the budget like a public document, not a personal allowance.

Back in 2003, long before Janet Napoles became a household name, Lacson was already talking about pork. He called it out in a privilege speech—Living Without Pork—and never touched his own allocations since. That’s 18 years of saying no to pork barrel. Over ₱2.4 billion that went unclaimed because one senator chose not to play along.

He combed through the budget line by line, year after year. Not for media mileage. Not to sound smart. He just did the work. Quietly. Consistently. You don’t hear much about it because it’s not sexy. But that’s the kind of leadership that keeps the house from burning down while everyone else is busy posing for photos.

The Senate’s New Look

Let’s not sugarcoat it: the Senate in 2025 is not exactly inspiring. You’ve got Bato dela Rosa finishing third. Bong Go at the very top. Marcoleta now wearing a senator’s pin. Imee Marcos slipping into the last slot. Robin Padilla is still there. That’s the company Lacson has to work with.

This is where that disappointment I mentioned earlier comes in. Because it’s not just about who got in—it’s about who didn’t. Mendoza could’ve backed Lacson’s budget work with her audit expertise. Espiritu could’ve brought in sorely needed advocacy for workers and ordinary Filipinos. But this is where we are: TV exposure still beats competence. Loud slogans still beat well-thought-out platforms. And that stings.

That’s also why Lacson’s return matters. Even more now.

No Time Wasted

He took his oath on June 26. And by July, he was already poking holes in the 2025 budget. He found ₱1.9 billion earmarked for a tiny barangay. ₱10 billion for a town of 10,000 people. Old habits had crept back in fast. And true to form, Lacson didn’t let it slide. He called out the secretive “bulungan bicam” system—the whispering deals made during bicameral meetings that the public never sees.

He also filed the Presidential Succession Act, a bill meant to fix the blurry line of succession during crises. Then there’s the Parents Welfare Act, which deals with elderly neglect—but also protects kids from abusive parents. These are not headline-hugging bills. But they speak to how he sees lawmaking: less about the applause, more about fixing what’s broken.

He Still Stands Alone

One thing I respect about Lacson is he doesn’t need to be in the majority to do his job. He’s said it himself—he doesn’t care about perks or positions. Even when he was part of the Senate majority in the past, he still called out shady line items in other agencies’ budgets. He didn’t adjust his standards depending on who was in charge.

That independence matters now more than ever. Especially when the Senate’s looking more and more like a stage show. He’s not flashy. He’s not entertaining. But he knows the system. He’s seen it rot and reform and rot again. And when he talks about how some senators are now handling ₱5–10 billion each—compared to the ₱200 million cap during his time—you realize just how far things have slid.

Why It Matters More Now

The government’s borrowing ₱4 billion every day. We’re spending ₱16 billion, but only earning ₱12 billion. Lacson’s worried that in five years, that daily deficit could hit ₱10 billion. That’s not doomsday talk—it’s math. And we need people in the Senate who can count, question, and call out absurdities before they become normalized.

His comeback is also a reminder of how fast we lose ground when there’s no one watching. Those dredging and flood control budgets? He and Drilon got them removed in 2022. Now they’re back—with a vengeance. It doesn’t take long for bad practices to make a comeback. Especially when no one’s minding the store.

Real Recognition, Not Manufactured Praise

In 2019, Lacson got an honorary law degree from PLM for his anti-corruption work. In 2022, the PMA gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award for over 50 years of public service. The business community—especially the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry—backed him publicly. These aren’t empty tokens. These are endorsements grounded in respect for consistency and results.

What’s Next

He’s already pushing for amendments to the Bank Secrecy Act, reintroducing the Budget Reform for Village Empowerment Act, and looking into AI regulation and social media protections for minors. He’s not stuck in the old battles. He’s adapting, still thinking about what the country needs to fix next.

Morning Coffee Thought

The problem isn’t just that good people lost. It’s that the system we’re stuck with keeps making it harder for those good people to win in the first place. But at least we’ve got one back in the room.

Lacson may not have a fan club. He doesn’t trend. But he reads the budget, he asks the hard questions, and he keeps receipts. And right now, in a Senate filled with recycled drama and familiar punchlines, that’s the kind of presence we can’t afford to lose.

So yeah—he’s back. And for once, I’m glad someone still is.

Note: I’m fully aware that Wikipedia is a crowdsourced encyclopedia, not a primary or authoritative source. I only use it for light background—like dates, public roles, or basic profiles. Even when I do reference information from Wikipedia, rest assured it is—and will always be—fact-checked and cross-checked with credible, verifiable sources. I don’t take shortcuts when it comes to accuracy, especially when the topic involves governance, public funds, or national policy.

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