Ping Lacson: Super Cop

Ping Lacson: Super Cop
Directed byToto Natividad
Screenplay byWilly Laconsay
Story byRaymond Burgos
Produced byEric M. Cuatico
StarringRudy Fernandez
Cinematography
  • Ramon Marcelino
  • Rudy Diño
Edited by
Music byEdwin "Kiko" Ortega
Production
company
Distributed byMillennium Cinema
Release date
  • December 25, 2000 (2000-12-25)
CountryPhilippines
LanguageFilipino

Ping Lacson: Super Cop is a 2000 Philippine biographical action film directed by Toto Natividad. The film stars Rudy Fernandez in the title role. The film is based on Panfilo "Ping" Lacson's career as a policeman. During this time, Lacson was the PNP Chief.

Produced by Millennium Cinema, the film was released on December 25, 2000 as an official entry for the 26th Metro Manila Film Festival. Less than a month after the film's release, Lacson himself participated in the Second EDSA Revolution (or EDSA II) in January 2001 that removed President Joseph Estrada from office, as well as the EDSA III protests in April 2001 that sought to return him to power.

Plot

The film depicts the Kuratong Baleleng rubout in 1995, and showing the timeline of his career, from Philippine Military Academy, Metrocom Intelligence and Security Group, People Power Revolution, Presidential Anti-Crime Commission's "Task Force Habagat" into reaching PNP Chief post.

Cast

Lt. Gen. Diomedio Villanueva has an uncredited cameo in the film.

Production

Millennium Cinema, a production company established in 1999 by the family of President Joseph Estrada, produced the film. Filming began in Baguio City on August 5, 2000, in which the PMA graduation scene of young Ping Lacson (portrayed by Raphael Fernandez) was shot. Lead actor Rudy Fernandez, who was the first choice to portray Lacson, has cited his role as the titular policeman to be "my most demanding, most challenging role."

Lacson has the described the film as "only 35 percent accurate". He gave his permission to the filmmakers to depict his affair with actress Tina Monasterio.

Controversy

Kilusang Mayo Uno, a left-wing group called for a boycott of Ping Lacson, as they stated that Lacson was not a hero, but a corrupt police officer who kills innocent people. The group also stated that the film only distracted the public from the corruption of then-President Joseph Estrada.

Release

Ping Lacson was released on December 25, 2000 as one of the official entries for the 26th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).

Less than a month after the film's release, PNP Chief Lacson's removal of support for President Joseph Estrada resulted in the latter's ouster in the Second EDSA Revolution on January 20, 2001.

Accolades

Award-giving body Category Result
2000 Metro Manila Film Festival Best FilmNominated

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Ping role one of Rudy's best". Philstar.com. December 21, 2000. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  2. ↑ Lo, Ricky (March 21, 2002). "Guess what Rudy's B-day wish is". Philstar.com. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 "Lorna, 2nd lead sa Lacson filmbio?". Philstar.com. December 13, 2000. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Pops & Rica, iisa ang bf ?". Philstar.com. December 7, 2000. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  5. ↑ Que, Ryan (April 13, 2006). "A new challenge for Bistek". Philstar.com. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  6. 1 2 Salterio, Leah (December 15, 2000). "Why Ping Lacson allowed recreation of his affair with Tina Monasterio". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Vol. 16, no. 7. pp. A29–A30. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  7. ↑ Requintina, Robert (July 18, 2021). "Sen. Ping Lacson to act as principal sponsor in Angel Locsin-Neil Arce wedding". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on July 18, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 Cabreza, Vincent (August 6, 2000). "Shooting starts on Ping movie". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Vol. 15, no. 240. Fort Del Pilar, Baguio City. pp. 1, 14. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  9. ↑ Chua, Yvonne T.; Coronel, Sheila S.; Datinguinoo, Vinia M. (2000). "Estrada's Entrepreneurial Families". In Coronel, Sheila S. (ed.). Investigating Estrada: Millions, Mansions and Mistresses. Quezon City: Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. p. 69. ISBN 971-8686-290. In addition, Jude with his two other siblings, Jinggoy and Jacqueline, his mother Luisa and uncle Jesus Ejercito, formed Millennium Cinema in 1999.
  10. ↑ "Ping role one of Rudy's best". Philstar.com. December 21, 2000. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  11. ↑ Asilo, Rito P. (April 21, 2001). "Even on radio, there's no business like show business". Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. C6. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  12. ↑ "'The Ping Lacson Story' iboykot - KMU". Philstar.com. December 18, 2000. Retrieved August 16, 2024.