Lacson: Decision to waive rights under bank secrecy law would be first act if elected

 Lacson: Decision to waive rights under bank secrecy law would be first act if elected

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 9) — The tandem of Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson and Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III held their seventh meet the press event Thursday, addressing issues they intend to tackle should they be elected to the county's top posts.

Lacson said his first official act would be to waive his rights under the Bank Secrecy Law, an issue he brought up earlier, and something Sotto said he would do as well.

However, Lacson stressed he would do this to prove that he was serious about transparency.

"I will take the lead and I will lead by example by first day, yun ang gagwin ko...para maipakita na itong gobyernong ito transparent at saka we mean business," he said.

[Translation: What I will do is take the lead and I will lead by example by first day...so I can show that this government is transparent and that we mean business.]

He added this was not meant to be a challenge for other aspirants, but rather was a personal decision. He said he has repeatedly filed a bill which provides that those who enter public service would have their rights under the bank secrecy act "deemed waived."

"So, I'm just being consistent. But to challenge the others, no. I will not challenge them. It's personal; it's a personal decision they will have to make," said Lacson.

'Wholistic approach'

Meanwhile, Sotto said he and Lacson would take on a "wholistic approach" in dealing with the issue of illegal drugs.

"You will never solve the problem of illegal drugs if you do not solve the problem of drug abuse. Those are two different things. I call them two different animals," he said at the same briefing.

Sotto said the measures for prevention and the rehabilitation of users should be substantial to stop buyers.

"Bottomline lang...kahit sunugin mo lahat ng droga sa Pilipinas, lahat ng pusher patayin mo — whether naka tsinelas o naka sapatos — pagka may drug dependent, hahanap yun ng drug to abuse... therefore, you will never be able to solve it if you do not solve the problem of drug abuse," he said,

[Translation: The bottomline is even if you burn all the drugs in the country, even of you kill all the pushers — whether they wear slippers or shoes — as long as there are drug dependents, they will find drugs to abuse... therefore, you will never be able to solve it if you do not solve the problem of drug abuse.]

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