THE LEADERS WE NEED IN 2022

Friday, December 10, 2021

Lacson-Sotto tandem respects party members’ criticisms of rival bets

Lacson-Sotto tandem respects party members’ criticisms of rival bets

MANILA, Philippines — While Senator Panfilo Lacson and his running mate Senate President Vicente Sotto III will not criticize other possible candidates in the 2022 national elections, they would respect the sentiments aired by party members on the activities of their rivals.

According to Lacson, both he and Sotto maintain their stand that they would not be speaking about the “missteps” of other candidates. Lacson made the remark after he was asked during the Meet the Press forum on Thursday about his comment on the caravan held by former senator Bongbong Marcos and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

Like Lacson and Sotto, Marcos and Duterte-Carpio are also running for president and vice president, respectively, in the upcoming polls.

“Kami ni Senate President, we always maintain our position not to criticize kung ano man ‘yong missteps na na-commit ng ibang tandems,” Lacson told reporters.

But he also clarified that members of parties affiliated with their tandem need not follow — like former LPGMA party-list Rep. Arnel Ty who criticized the Marcos-Duterte caravan that caused a monstrous traffic jam on Commonwealth Avenue on Wednesday.

Ty is currently the treasurer of Partido Reporma, the party to where Lacson belongs to.

“Now ‘yong aming treasurer, si Congressman Arnel Ty ng Partido Reporma, naglabas siya ng isang kalatas na sinasabi do’n, inii-slam niya ‘yong nangyari kahapon. Siguro dahil ‘yong mga miyembro nila tinamaan dahil sa matinding traffic,” Lacson explained.

“So while we do not criticize kung ano man ‘yong pagkakamali o — rightly or wrongly no, pagkakamali ng ibang tandem, kami ni Senate President will always stick to our position, that we will never criticize […] however, kami rin, nirerespeto rin namin ‘yong mga individual, ‘yong mga personal opinion, na mas que sinong tao, whether or not member sila ng aming political parties,” he added.

Lacson thinks that Sotto would also do the same if a member of the party that he belongs to, the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), will be doing the same.

“Kung manggaling ‘yong kritisismo galing sa isang miyembro o opisyal ng [NPC], palagay ko naman si Senate President hindi niya rin naman pipigilin din ‘yon kasi maaaring iba ‘yong perspective, iba ‘yong pinanggagalingan kasi baka naka-experience ng personal ng paghihirap kahapon,” he added.

On Wednesday morning — a non-working holiday — Marcos and Duterte-Carpio staged a caravan in Quezon City. Huge crowds gathered to welcome the two aspirants and left big portions of Commonwealth Avenue blocked.

Ty said in a statement that there were working-class citizens who woke up expecting better traffic conditions due to the holiday but ended up being troubled by the heavy traffic flow in the said area.

“Partido Reporma laments that in the time of pandemic, there are politicians who still subscribe to that kind of politics where common decency and basic social conventions are being swept under the rug for political expediency,” Ty said.

“We are hoping that the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Comelec (Commission on Election) would seriously take a look at this issue, as Partido Reporma has been doing its best to play fair this election season with the utmost respect to the sentiments and safety of our countrymen,” he added.

In a statement, the Quezon City government said the organizers of the caravan did not coordinate with city officials.

The Marcos camp issued an apology for the incident.

*********

Lacson-Sotto tandem to trim down Senate slate from 15 to 12

Lacson-Sotto tandem to trim down Senate slate from 15 to 12

Presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson and his runningmate Senate President Vicente Sotto III visit Cebu with some of aspirants in their Senate slate.

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson and his running mate Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Friday they are eyeing to trim down their senatorial slate from 15 to 12.

According to Lacson, they currently have 15 names in their initial senatorial lineup. However, this may be slashed to 12 ahead of the campaign season.

“Lampas kasi ang bilang namin. Pino-problema nga namin magtatanggal kami ng dalawa or tatlo para maging 12,” Lacson said in a media briefing in Cebu when asked if they will add President Rodrigo Duterte to their senatorial slate.

(Our count is more than 12. We are thinking about how we may remove two or three candidates so we can have 12.)

“Kasi nung una inisip namin ito yung mga gusto naming manalo pero paano kami magka-campaign ng vote straight e 15? Parang nakakatawa naman,”he added.

(At first, we were just thinking about who we want to win but now, how will we campaign for “vote straight” if there are 15? That’s funny.)

Lacson said his party Partido Reporma currently has three candidates for senator while Sotto’s Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) has six candidates.

“Siyam na ‘yun so ang opening na lang namin tatlo. May mga colleagues na gusto sumama sa amin na at least dalawa. Meron pang returning or comebacking na gusto rin sumama so ‘yun ang pinaga-aralan natin ngayon,” Lacson said.

(That’s already nine so that leaves an opening of three. We have colleagues who want to join us, that’s at least two. There are also returning senators who want to join so we are looking at it now.)

Asked how they are planning to trim down their senatorial slate, Lacson said it will be based on “like-mindedness” with their platform.

*********

Lacson: Decision to waive rights under bank secrecy law would be first act if elected

Lacson: Decision to waive rights under bank secrecy law would be first act if elected

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 9) — The tandem of Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson and Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III held their seventh meet the press event Thursday, addressing issues they intend to tackle should they be elected to the county's top posts.

Lacson said his first official act would be to waive his rights under the Bank Secrecy Law, an issue he brought up earlier, and something Sotto said he would do as well.

However, Lacson stressed he would do this to prove that he was serious about transparency.

"I will take the lead and I will lead by example by first day, yun ang gagwin ko...para maipakita na itong gobyernong ito transparent at saka we mean business," he said.

[Translation: What I will do is take the lead and I will lead by example by first day...so I can show that this government is transparent and that we mean business.]

He added this was not meant to be a challenge for other aspirants, but rather was a personal decision. He said he has repeatedly filed a bill which provides that those who enter public service would have their rights under the bank secrecy act "deemed waived."

"So, I'm just being consistent. But to challenge the others, no. I will not challenge them. It's personal; it's a personal decision they will have to make," said Lacson.

'Wholistic approach'

Meanwhile, Sotto said he and Lacson would take on a "wholistic approach" in dealing with the issue of illegal drugs.

"You will never solve the problem of illegal drugs if you do not solve the problem of drug abuse. Those are two different things. I call them two different animals," he said at the same briefing.

Sotto said the measures for prevention and the rehabilitation of users should be substantial to stop buyers.

"Bottomline lang...kahit sunugin mo lahat ng droga sa Pilipinas, lahat ng pusher patayin mo — whether naka tsinelas o naka sapatos — pagka may drug dependent, hahanap yun ng drug to abuse... therefore, you will never be able to solve it if you do not solve the problem of drug abuse," he said,

[Translation: The bottomline is even if you burn all the drugs in the country, even of you kill all the pushers — whether they wear slippers or shoes — as long as there are drug dependents, they will find drugs to abuse... therefore, you will never be able to solve it if you do not solve the problem of drug abuse.]

*********

SEN PING LACSON and SPEAKER PANTALEON ALVAREZ at the blessing and inauguration of PARTIDO REPORMA HQ in CEBU

SEN PING LACSON and SPEAKER PANTALEON ALVAREZ at the blessing and inauguration of PARTIDO REPORMA HQ in CEBU

‘You cannot demand it’: Lacson, Sotto won’t seek endorsement from Duterte

‘You cannot demand it’: Lacson, Sotto won’t seek endorsement from Duterte

Partido Reporma standard bearer Panfilo Lacson and vice presidential aspirant Senate President Vicente Sotto III attend a press conference in Cebu on December 10, 2021.

CEBU CITY - Partido Reporma standard bearer Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Friday said he would not actively seek the endorsement of President Rodrigo Duterte and other incumbent politicians to boost his chances of winning the 2022 presidential elections.

Lacson likened a political endorsement to respect, saying both things should be earned, and never demanded.

"We will not seek it openly. May tinatawag tayong self-respect (we have this thing called self-respect)," he told reporters when asked if he plans to court the President's endorsement.

"Campaigning is all about seeking endorsement from the people pero hindi 'yung parang nagmamakawa ka na (but not to the point of begging)," he said.

The policy on not actively seeking an endorsement also covers other incumbent politicians, the senator said.

"It also applies to others. Nakagawian na namin ni Senate President (We have been used) to do it in our own efforts," he said.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III - who is seeking the vice presidency - said their tandem is more keen on securing endorsements from voters.

"Endorsements are good, but we need votes," Sotto said.

"We will seek the endorsement of everybody as much as possible from the governor to the lowest member of government," he said

Several other presidential aspirants have been vocal about their openness to get Duterte's backing for the upcoming 2022 national elections after Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go - the President's long-time aide - said he was backing out from the presidential race.

While Go has announced his plan to step down from the race, he has yet to submit official documents to the Commission on Elections to formalize the withdrawal.

Lacson and Sotto has been going around the country to touch base with local leaders and voters, but the tandem underscored that they are not trying to court endorsements from local chief executives.

"We’re not seeking their endorsement, we are explaining to them our platforms," Lacson said.

"Kung hindi namin makuha ang endorsement, we have to work harder and go down to the grassroots."

*********

Lacson-Sotto tandem nixes motorcades: How can you talk to people if you’re moving?

Lacson-Sotto tandem nixes motorcades: How can you talk to people if you’re moving?

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday explained that he and Senator Panfilo Lacson does not conduct caravans to woo voters simply because it could not allow them to talk to the people.

During the Meet the Press forum, Lacson was asked whether their decision to refrain from doing motorcades was a conscious decision and part of their strategy – to which he answered in the affirmative.

Sotto, on the other hand, justified their style saying they try to convince people to pick their tandem by reaching out and talking to them – which would not happen if they are aboard a moving vehicle.

“Ang strategy namin is to try to reach and talk to the people. So hindi kami pass-by, kasi hindi mo makakausap (‘yong tao) eh. That’s the strategy,” he said.

(Our strategy is to try to reach and talk to the people. So we would not just pass by, because, with that, you can’t talk to the people. That’s the strategy.)

“Either (you talk to) the people themselves or the representatives of the people, ‘yon po ang intention ng Online Kumustahan na hybrid, sapagkat nagpupunta kami mismo doon sa lugar para marinig sila, mapakinggan natin kung ano ‘yong sinasabi nila, at marinig din nila kung ano ang sinasabi namin,” he added.

(Either you talk to the people themselves or the representatives of the people, that’s the intention of our Online Kumustahan which is in a hybrid system, as we visit the places itself to hear their concerns, hear their grievances, and at the same time, for them to hear our messages.)

Lacson and Sotto will run for president and vice president, respectively, in the May 2022 elections.

Further, Lacson explained, their tandem refrains from engaging in activities that lead to crowding which may risk the health of the people amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

He even cited an instance when tricycle drivers were not allowed to enter an event venue because the area already reached its permitted capacity. He said it would not have been a problem if there was no COVID-19.

“If you noticed, nililimit namin ‘yong crowd kapag meron kaming Online Kumustahan ‘di ba? Katunayan ‘yong nakaraan namin sa Quezon City, sa Eton, ‘yong TODA, ang daming nasa labas doon, hindi pinayagan at ‘yon, nagpapaumanhin na rin kami kasi hindi lahat na-accomodate,” Lacson said.

(If you noticed, we have been limiting our crowd during every Online Kumustahan, right? As a matter of fact, last time in Quezon City, at Eton, a lot of tricycle drivers and owners were left outside and not allowed to enter. There, we asked for understanding because we were not able to accommodate everybody.)

“Hindi dahil sa ayaw i-accomodate kundi maba-violate ‘yong physical distancing. Kaya kung hindi man nakapasok — I think mga nasa 1,500 at least ‘yong naiwan sa labas — kasi nga kung papapasukin lahat ‘yon, eh medyo baka maging super spreader,” he added.

(Not because we don’t want to accommodate them; rather, it may violate physical distancing rules. That’s why if they were not able to enter — I think at least 1,500 were still outside — it was because if we allowed all of them to go inside, we might have a super spreader event.)

Lacson said they do not want to be the reason why COVID-19 numbers would rise again, especially since infections have been constantly on a downward trend.

“So kami mine-maintain namin ‘yong disiplina not only for whatever reason, kundi ayaw naming mag-contribute pa kasi pababa na nang pababa ‘yong positivity rate natin, tapos tayo pa ‘yong makaka-likha ng pagtaas ulit, ‘pag spike ulit, eh ‘yon ‘yong ang iniiwasan namin,” he explained.

(So we are maintaining the discipline not only for whatever reasons, but because we do not want to contribute more COVID-19 cases especially when our positivity rate has been going down, and then we would be the reason for increases and spikes? No, that’s what we’re avoiding.)

The questions posed to Lacson and Sotto came a day after Bongbong Marcos and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio held a caravan in Quezon City, which caused a traffic jam along Commonwealth Avenue.

Former Rep. Arnel Ty, who is now treasurer of Lacson’s Partido Reporma, criticized the event for inconveniencing the public who expected light traffic on Wednesday, December 8, a non-working holiday to commemorate the feast of immaculate.

Lacson said earlier that while they refrain from making criticisms, they allow other members of their parties to make remarks, especially if they themselves experienced the discomfort.

In a statement, the Quezon City government said that the organizers of the caravan refused to coordinate with them regarding the motorcade.

The camp of Marcos Jr. has since apologized.

*********

Lacson: Voters Have Responsibility of Choosing Right Leaders

Lacson: Voters Have Responsibility of Choosing Right Leaders

December 10, 2021 - Before the next leader can lead the Philippines out of its predicament, he must first be elected by the voters.

Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson stressed this as he noted the country faces a whopping P13.42-trillion debt by the time the next administration takes over.

"Each and every living Filipino, rich or poor, young or old will pay for it. The heavy burden falls on the country’s next leaders. The responsibility is on the voters to choose those leaders. Think of the next generation. Be wise. Be responsible," Lacson said on his Twitter account.

Earlier, Lacson said the national debt is one of the humongous problems the next leader will face - along with COVID-19's impact on health and the economy, unemployment, corruption, and the dispute in the West Philippine Sea.

Lacson, who is running for President under Partido Reporma, says he plans to address these problems with a no-nonsense leadership anchored on discipline and leadership by example.

He said he will also initiate much-needed budget reforms to make sure public money is spent properly, as well as downloaded to the local government units so they can implement their priority programs, activities and projects.

Lacson and his running mate, Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III who is running under the Nationalist People's Coalition, have anchored their campaign on presenting before the public their solutions to the problems plaguing the nation.

*********

'Homecoming' for Lacson, Sotto as They Visit Cebu

'Homecoming' for Lacson, Sotto as They Visit Cebu

December 10, 2021 - A homecoming awaits the tandem of Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson and Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III as they head for Cebu on Friday for their Online Kumustahan this weekend.

Lacson, who is running for President under Partido Reporma, recalled how he became an "Adopted Son of Cebu" for his no-nonsense leadership when he served as commander of the then Philippine Constabulary's Cebu Metropolitan District Command (MetroDisCom) from 1989 to 1992.

Sotto, who is running for Vice President under the Nationalist People's Coalition, traces his roots to Cebu.

"Importante ang Cebu sa akin. Adopted son ako ng Cebu dahil na-assign ako riyan as MetroDisCom Commander for 28 months, at nag-request sila kay then President Cory Aquino na i-retain ako (Cebu is very important to me because the people of Cebu made me an adopted son due to my performance as the Philippine Constabulary's Metropolitan District Commander there. When my tour of duty was about to end there, they requested the late former President Corazon Aquino to retain me)," Lacson said at the LACSON-SOTTO weekly media forum.

Lacson's regular two-year term of office as a field commander in Cebu would have ended in August 1991, but with the request to the late Mrs. Aquino to extend his term, he stayed at Cebu MetroDisCom until February 1992, when he was transferred to Laguna.

For his part, Sotto said they want to present their platform of government to residents of Cebu, which he pointed out is a vote-rich province and has a trickle-down effect on other provinces in Central Visayas.

"It's not only important, it is critical. It has a trickle down effect on the entire Region 7. My family on my father’s side comes from Cebu," he said.

Lacson said the "adopted son" tag was in recognition not only of his performance but also of the integrity he showed when he headed the Cebu MetroDisCom.

During his stint there, Lacson recalled he and his men rescued a young kidnap victim, the scion of the Gaisano clan. Lacson and his men rescued the boy safely and neutralized the kidnappers, but declined the victim's grateful relatives' offer of a reward.

"Consistent ako riyan. We did our duty, you don’t have to think of giving reward money to my men. Yan ang tumatak sa kanila (I have been consistent there. We did our duty. They did not have to think of giving reward money to my men. The people of Cebu remembered that)," Lacson recalled.

"Kaya importante on a personal level na mabisita ang Cebu, to remind them adopted son nyo ako baka pwede tangkilikin nyo ako (So it is important to me on a personal level that I visit Cebu , so I can 'remind' the people that I am an adopted son of the province)," he added.

*********