The situation, in brief
The Discaya family was brought to the office of then-senatorial candidate Panfilo “Ping” Lacson by Davao-based supporter Fred Villaroman, whose late father, PBGen Francisco Villaroman, once headed the security detail of former President Rodrigo Duterte during his time as mayor of Davao City.…
The Discaya family was brought to the office of then-senatorial candidate Panfilo “Ping” Lacson by Davao-based supporter Fred Villaroman, whose late father, PBGen Francisco Villaroman, once headed the security detail of former President Rodrigo Duterte during his time as mayor of Davao City.
Lacson said the Discayas visited his Taguig office in the last week of April 2025, just before the 90-day campaign period for the midterm elections ended, to invite him to attend what they described as a grand rally of their party-list group Ako Pinoy or Ako’y Pinoy.
At the time, the younger Discaya was one of the group’s nominees for a congressional seat.
”A campaign supporter from Davao City, Mr Fred Villaroman, whose dad, the late PBGen Francisco Villaroman served under me in the PNP and used to head the security detail of then Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, brought the Discaya son to my office in Taguig City to invite me to attend what they described as a grand rally in one of the Davao provinces,” Lacson said.
According to Lacson, Mr. and Mrs. Discaya later joined their son during the short meeting, which lasted around 15 to 20 minutes.
He said he eventually declined the invitation, citing both personal and political considerations.
“Anyway, I begged off – first, out of respect for my friend SP Tito Sotto whose nephew, Mayor Vico Sotto was running against Mrs Discaya for the mayorship of Pasig City, and second, there were other party-list groups who were including my name in their sample ballots and I thought it was not a smart political decision to join a rally of any party-list group,” he said.
Lacson also emphasized that he had no prior personal connection with the Discayas.
“I did not know the Discayas and that was the first and only time outside of the Blue Ribbon committee hearings that I met them. That meeting took around 15-20 minutes but not before that group photo was taken,” Lacson said.
“I hope this clarifies whatever insinuations are being attached to this said photograph,” he added.
