Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson hit back at Senator Imee Marcos following her challenge that they settle their dispute by pulling each other’s hair, saying the remark was meant to divert attention from issues he raised about the 2026 national budget.
Lacson said Marcos may have thought his hair was a wig or was insinuating that he is gay, which led her to issue the challenge. He denied both assumptions.
“Either Senator Imee thought na peluka ‘yung buhok ko, or she was insinuating na bakla ako, kaya siya naghamon ng sabunutan. On both counts, I say nothing can be farthest from the truth. Una, hindi po peluka ang aking buhok,” Lacson said.
“Idugtong ko na rin na walang peke sa mukha ko. Hindi rin pustiso ang ngipin ko. My teeth are all mine. Ulitin ko, walang peke sa anumang bahagi ng aking mukha. Pangalawa, lalong hindi ako bakla,” the Senator added.
He added that instead of responding to his disclosure that Marcos allegedly has P2.5 billion in “allocabled” funds in the proposed 2026 national budget, she resorted to personal remarks.
Lacson clarified that he has no issue with homosexuality, saying it is a personal choice that he respects, but stressed his own identity.
“Hindi ko naman sinabihang bakla siya, pero napakababaw pala ng kahulugan niya sa kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng tunay na lalaki,” Lacson said.
Marcos, meanwhile, fired back at Lacson, saying she did not call Lacson ‘bakla’ (gay) and that personal choices come with consequences.
“Desisyon ng tao kung gusto niyang magpagawa ng kahit ano sa sarili niya. Desisyon niya rin kung gusto niyang sirain ang mukha, pangalan, at dignidad niya. Parehas ‘yang natatanong ng ‘Magkano,’” Marcos said.
After Lacson’s statement circulated, Marcos appeared to post a cryptic video on her Facebook page, sharing a short clip from comedian Michael V’s music video “Hindi Ako Bakla,” without any accompanying explanation.
The exchange comes amid continuing questions raised by Lacson over alleged budget allocations linked to Marcos in the 2026 national spending plan.
