Presidential aspirant and Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson on Friday described as "calamity politics" the call of his fellow aspirant and Senator Manny Pacquiao to join forces to help victims of Typhoon Odette.
Pacquiao on Thursday urged fellow presidential aspirants on social media to "set aside all politics and join together … to help fellow Filipinos in Visayas and Mindanao."
On his post, he tagged other presidential aspirants, including Vice President Leni Robredo, Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso, Leody de Guzman, and Lacson.
Robredo responded on Twitter and said her camp would get in touch to coordinate their efforts.
Lacson, however, said in a statement that if the call was done through private communication, he would have offered their resources.
"If it was done through private communication, I would have responded privately as well and offered whatever resources we can share at our disposal in a coordinated effort," he said.
But since it was done through the media, Lacson tagged it as "calamity politics" and the lowest form of campaigning.
"Since it was done through the media - it goes against my principled belief that 'calamity politics' is the lowest form of campaigning. In fact, I consider it abominable," he said.
According to Lacson, his office, friends, and supporters assisted in past calamities even without media coverage.
"Election or no election, we assist and help period," he said.
Over 41,000 individuals are reportedly taking shelter in evacuation centers in Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga due to Typhoon Odette, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
According to PAGASA, the typhoon is expected to make its ninth landfall in Palawan on Friday afternoon.
