MANILA – Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said that restoring public trust in government requires the certainty of punishment for corrupt officials, not the holding of snap elections.

In a statement, Lacson said that elections—whether snap or regular—may even worsen corruption as candidates could use public funds to buy votes.

“Election, snap or regular, is not the solution. In fact, election campaigns actually add to more corruption — of the electorate by the candidates,” he said, responding to Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s call for all elected officials to resign and hold a snap election to rebuild public trust.

Lacson stressed that accountability lies in ensuring swift and certain punishment for those guilty of corruption.

He said that the government should focus on prosecuting, convicting, and imprisoning those involved in anomalous projects to serve as a real deterrent.

“For a change, how about certainty of punishment of corrupt politicians? The higher the better,” he added.

Lacson has long advocated for stronger enforcement of anti-corruption laws and faster conviction processes to curb graft in government.