Partido Reporma chairman and standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said he is ready to accept whatever fate bestows upon him in the upcoming 2022 polls and would have no regrets devoting his entire professional life in public service.
Lacson has maintained his pragmatic yet optimistic attitude in life, saying he would consider it a “blessing” whether he wins the elections or not.
“My attitude has always been that if I win, I am ready. I am prepared to serve and apply the values I learned from the PMA (Philippine Military Academy)—courage, integrity, and loyalty,” he said.
“And if I lose, I can enjoy living in peace with my family, spend quality time with my friends, especially with my supporters who—as I mentioned earlier—through thick and thin have always been there for me,” he said.
If he becomes President, Lacson also said no more undeserving and unqualified government officials will be allowed under his term.
The standard bearer of Partido Reporma committed to remove these officials from their posts, especially political appointees who don”t perform the duties of their office.
He sees this as a form of thievery not only of the nation’s coffers, but also of opportunities that could go to more deserving Filipinos.
Lacson initially wanted to retire from politics after serving his third term in the Senate but decided to postpone it to take his final shot at the presidency on the advice of his supporters and trusted allies, particularly his running mate and long-time colleague Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
Since announcing their decision to run as a tandem in early September last year, Lacson had always been clear and consistent with his intentions about his second presidential bid. He wanted to offer his wisdom, knowledge, leadership skills and experience to help solve the problems plaguing our nation.
“I have been in government for a long time. I think, not to sound like I”m bragging, but I have already done so many things for our country. But if I win, I”m really prepared to keep serving. In fact, I consider it a sacrifice because I know myself, Mike. I knew what it felt like to be in a position of power, and I never abused it,” he said.
Despite the presence of many critics, who are quick to count him out in the presidential race before the official campaign period could even start, Lacson chose to remain steadfast and hopeful about his chances of winning.
Lacson said he is aware of where he stood in recent pre-election surveys, and he is using this information as his “guidepost” to “adjust” and improve his public messaging and campaign strategy. But no matter what happens, Lacson stressed he has no plans to stoop so low and fool the public just to win.
“You will adjust. You will check the analytics being done. It is better to analyze it carefully instead of responding with a knee-jerk reaction. Like you have to think about where you are falling short in terms of messaging.”
Lacson and Sotto are campaigning under the platforms of good governance and anti-corruption, carrying the slogans “Fixing the Government) and “Uubusin ang Magnanakaw” (Get Rid of the Thieves).
In an interview over radio DZXL, Lacson noted the “palakasan” and “padrino” (nepotism and patronage) systems still prevail in appointing officials to head government agencies.
But he vowed to break this system once he earns the people’s mandate to lead the country following the 2022 national elections.
The longtime public servant said it was important to match an official’s skills with the position he or she was taking on so that the plans and solutions the official will prepare will truly solve the prevailing problems of the agency he or she will be appointed to.
“There are officials who avoid their obligations, who instead of studying how to perform their jobs better, study to learn how they can earn more from their position,” he said.
“The problem with political appointees is, they’re recruited indiscriminately. Whoever knows someone, or whoever is—let’s say, their neighbor or townmate—they’re not being chosen well. They don’t rely on a person’s expertise before appointing them to office,” he added.
“It’s like saying, “no, it’s just a minor office, it’s not a Cabinet position, or a director position. This or that person will suffice, we know who they are anyway.”
He said there’s no more skills matching. Whoever knows somebody, (the appointing person will say), “alright, he’ll do in that place.” When (the appointee) gets there, only then will he study the position.
The principle of leadership by example, he said, must still prevail in government, because leaders cannot say one thing and do something else.
“No one will believe you that way,” added the Partido Reporma chief, who is campaigning on a platform of eradicating corruption and crime and fixing the government, so Filipinos can have better lives and a better future.
