MANILA – Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson accused former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano of attacking his integrity and said he is gathering information and evidence that could lead to legal action against the former lawmaker.

In a post on X, Lacson said integrity has always been his “first and last line of defense” and vowed to protect it.

“My integrity is my first and last line of defense and I will fight to defend it with all my might. Sen Cayetano has crossed the line by attacking it,” Lacson said.

He added that several informants and witnesses have expressed willingness to provide information and evidence against Cayetano.

“As of this morning, I’m still counting informants and witnesses, directly or through intermediaries, willing to provide information and evidence to put him in his proper place – the Payatas, QC jail,” he said.

Lacson said integrity has been the guiding principle throughout his more than five decades in public service as both a law enforcement officer and legislator.

He recalled implementing a “No-Take” policy during his tenure in the Philippine National Police, rejecting money from gambling operators, suppliers, contractors, and even rewards offered by families of kidnap victims.

As a senator, Lacson said he likewise refused to accept any form of “pork barrel” or lobby money in exchange for favorable legislation. He contrasted this with what he claimed were Cayetano’s PHP6.79 billion worth of “pork barrel”-like budget insertions under the 2025 General Appropriations Act.

“I’ve tasted power and I know how to handle power through personal experience. Hindi ako abusado at hindi ako corrupt na government official (I am neither abusive nor corrupt),” Lacson said.

On Saturday, Lacson also rejected Cayetano’s claims made during a Facebook Live broadcast questioning the increase in the senator’s declared net worth based on his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) from 2022 and 2025.

Lacson clarified that his net worth nearly quadrupled during the three years he was out of government after leaving the Senate on June 30, 2022, saying the increase came from legitimate sources reflected in his income tax returns for taxable years 2023 and 2024.

He also alleged that there are ghost flood control projects in Taguig City and claimed that the city’s engineer had gambled large sums of money in Metro Manila casinos.