Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Monday addressed reports that an ethics complaint may be filed against him over an allegedly edited video from a Commission on Appointments (CA) hearing, saying he has no knowledge of how to manipulate footage.
In a social media post, Lacson said he had been informed that a fellow senator was planning to bring the matter before the Senate ethics body, accusing him of splicing a video taken during a CA confirmation proceeding.
“Reports have reached me that a fellow senator has threatened to file an ethics complaint against me for supposedly splicing a video taken during a CA confirmation hearing,” Lacson wrote.
“Paano ba mag-splice ng video? I have no idea. Please teach me,” he added.
The planned complaint is reportedly being prepared by Senate Deputy Minority Leader Rodante Marcoleta, who earlier criticized a video uploaded by Lacson on February 5.
Marcoleta alleged that the footage, taken from a panel hearing, had been edited in a way that misrepresented what transpired and misled the public.
In a recent interview program, Marcoleta questioned the video’s presentation and claimed portions were pieced together to create a misleading narrative. He challenged the supposed editing, asking that the segments he believes were combined be clearly shown.
The tension between the two lawmakers traces back to the same CA hearing, where Marcoleta sparked controversy after raising the idea that the Philippines might consider “giving up” the Kalayaan Island Group. He argued that the disputed territory lies beyond the country’s exclusive economic zone.
Marcoleta later clarified that he was not advocating surrendering the territory but was instead emphasizing the complexity of asserting claims over it. He maintained, however, that Lacson’s video presentation distorted his position.
In a separate interview on Monday, Marcoleta said he has already drafted an ethics complaint against Lacson and is reviewing certain portions before formally filing it. He said he wants to ensure the complaint fully reflects what he described as actions that shaped a narrative inconsistent with what actually occurred during the hearing.
Since the remarks about the Kalayaan Island Group gained attention, both senators have publicly traded criticisms, with Marcoleta’s son, SAGIP Party-list Representative Paolo Henry Marcoleta also weighing in on the issue, further intensifying the ongoing dispute.