FORMER Senator Panfilo Lacson has vowed to continue advocating for the welfare of women and children by strengthening protective mechanisms, starting with the model used in Misamis Occidental.

Lacson expressed his commitment to legislating and funding refugee centers for children who are victims of sexual abuse and violence.

“Kung sakaling mabigyan po ako ng pagkakataong muli na makapaglingkod bilang Senador ng taumbayan sa 2025, maaasahan po ninyo na ang inyong abang lingkod ay inyong magiging katulong o tulay upang itaguyod ang kapakanan ng mga kababaihan at kabataan,” Lacson stated.

Earlier, Lacson assisted Misamis Occidental Governor Henry S. Oaminal in the blessing and formal opening of a refugee center in Aloran, which provides shelter for at least 18 children who have suffered from sexual abuse and violence.

The center offers care, psychological treatment, formal education, and legal assistance to ensure the conviction of offenders. “Talagang heart-wrenching and heartwarming at the same time,” Lacson remarked.

He noted that the initiative, funded solely by the province’s local revenues, should serve as a model for replication nationwide.

“My heart goes out to the victims I met at the refugee center, and I commend Governor Oaminal and the provincial government for their collaboration with various agencies, including the prosecutor’s office, judiciary, Department of Education, and Department of Social Welfare and Development, to bring this vital program to life despite initial challenges,” he said.

Lacson believes that such efforts should be institutionalized across all local government units in the country, with support from the national government.

Sharing the provincial government’s vision for protecting vulnerable sectors, Lacson drew from his experiences as a law enforcer where he witnessed the worst of humanity in crimes against women and children.

As a budget watchdog in the Senate, he pushed for reallocating questionable funding toward programs that protect women and children.

“As I have consistently upheld in all of my personal and professional life, my credo remains: Ang tama ay ipaglaban, ang mali ay labanan,” he added.