Panfilo Lacson

The Honorable Panfilo Lacson
Senator of the Philippines
In office June 30, 2016 – June 30, 2022
In office June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2013
Senate committee chairmanships Chair of the Philippine Senate National Defense and Security Committee In office July 23, 2019 – June 30, 2022 Preceded by Gregorio Honasan Succeeded by Jinggoy Estrada Chair of the Philippine Senate Accounts Committee In office July 24, 2019 – June 30, 2022 Preceded by Gregorio Honasan Succeeded by Nancy Binay
Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery
In office December 10, 2013 – February 10, 2015
President	Benigno Aquino III
Chief of the Philippine National Police
In office November 16, 1999 – February 16, 2001
President	Joseph Estrada Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Preceded by	Edmundo L. Larroza
Succeeded by	Leandro Mendoza
Personal details
Born	Panfilo Morena Lacson (1948-06-01) June 1, 1948 (age 76) Imus, Cavite, Philippines
Political party	Independent (2004–2021; 2022–present)
Other political affiliations	Reporma (2021–2022)[1] UNO (2007–2010) LDP (2001–2004)
Spouse	Alice de Perio
Children	4
Alma mater	Philippine Military Academy(BS) Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (MPA)
Website	pinglacson.net
Military service
Years of service	1971 – 1991
Commands	MetroCom Intelligence and Security Group (MISG, as deputy commander) Isabela Provincial PC PC-INP Anti Carnapping Task Force Cebu Metropolitan District Command (Cebu MetroDisCom)
Police career
Service	Philippine Constabulary Philippine National Police
Division	Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) Task Force Habagat – Presidential Anti-Crime Commission
Police office	Laguna Provincial Police
Service years	1991–2001
Rank	Director General

Panfilo "Ping" Morena Lacson Sr. (Tagalog pronunciation: [ˈlakson]; born June 1, 1948) is a Filipino former politician and police general who served as a Senator for three terms: from 2001 to 2013 and from 2016 to 2022. He was the Director General of the Philippine National Police (PNP) from 1999 to 2001, and was a candidate in the 2004 and 2022 Philippine presidential elections.^[2][3]

During his tenure as the chief of the PNP, he was known for instituting various reforms within the organization. Despite some controversies,^[4][5] his high approval rating and high-profile anti-corruption campaigns paved the way for his Senate bid in 2001, where he won and placed tenth in the elections. In January 2001, Lacson's withdrawal of police support for President Joseph Estrada was critical to Estrada's ouster in EDSA II. However, after Estrada was arrested on April 25, 2001, Lacson was among the politicians who spoke against his removal from office at pro-Estrada rallies that preceded the May 1 riots near Malacañang Palace.^[6][7] He ran for the presidency in 2004 but lost, though he continued to serve as senator until 2007. He won another six-year term in 2007.

After his first two terms in the Senate, Lacson was appointed by then-President Benigno Aquino III as Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery in December 2013. He led the management and rehabilitation efforts of the central provinces in the Philippines affected by Typhoon Yolanda.^[8]

While he initially planned to run for president again in 2016, he opted to run for the Senate in the 2016 elections. He won and ranked fourth in the said elections.

Lacson went on for another attempt for the Presidency of the Philippines during the 2022 Philippine presidential election, however he placed 5th in the race receiving 1.66% of the total vote. After the elections, Lacson said he would contribute to food security^[9] through an agri-aqua business.^[10]

His career as a police officer became the basis for two local action films: Task Force Habagat (1993) and Ping Lacson: Super Cop (2000).