After 16 agonizing years, a public apology finally cleared Senator Panfilo M. Lacson of alleged links to illegal drug operations.
This after Victor Corpus, retired chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), made a public apology that he was wrong in linking Lacson to alleged illegal drugs.
Lacson, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and co-chairman of the Senate justice committee, accepted Corpus’ apology.
Corpus’ video apology was contained in a Facebook page called “Punto de Labra.”
“It’s long in coming. Nevertheless, I still appreciate his gesture of humility and courage in doing so. Needless to say, I accept his apology,” Lacson said.
In a testimony before a Senate committee public hearing, Corpus warned that the Philippines might be sliding towards a “narco state.’’
In his early years in the AFP, Corpus penetrated the communist movement. Years later, he surfaced to rejoin the AFP.
During his stay as ISAFP chief, Corpus linked Lacson to illegal drug operations.
In a turn around, Corpus said making the accusation was a “grievous mistake” on his part.
He conceded that his information was “devious and a fraud.”
“This grievous mistake that I have committed maligned the reputation of Senator Panfilo Lacson,” Corpus said.
“For this grave error on my part, I humbly and sincerely offer my public apology to Senator Lacson and his entire family,’’ he added.
Lacson said: “Yes, I was informed that ex-ISAFP Chief Victor Corpus has finally admitted publicly that he had unjustly wronged me by being taken for a ride by a ‘fraud,’ obviously referring to Angelo ‘Ador’ Mawanay, who himself had retracted 13 years earlier, even pointing to those who were responsible in suborning him to commit perjury against me.”
Mawanay had implicated Lacson of involvement in drug trafficking. He later changed his story. (Mario B. Casayuran)