The strength of the country is the Filipino people, said Partido Reporma chairman and standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson as he stressed the voters’ power to choose their leaders every three or six years whenever national or local elections are held.
“Like we always say, the greatest arsenal of our country is our people. Let’s harness this arsenal, this asset of our country. It is only every three or six years that we declare that you (voters) are the kings, you are the most powerful,” he said.
“If we make a mistake, we’ll be wrong for the next six years, I don’t know what will happen then. We have no one to blame but ourselves then,” he added.
He said it is easy to learn how to sing and dance and that this strategy may fool some voters, but choosing the wrong leaders will have long-term consequences for the country.
His running mate, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, an accomplished entertainer even before he served in the Senate for 24 years, said the country’s myriad problems will not be solved by amusing the masses and gossiping on social media.
“I hope the Marites (Filipino slang for gossipmongers) realize that our problems with food, poverty, the West Philippine Sea, corruption and others will not be solved by dancing,” he said.
The 73-year-old Lacson also assured voters he is physically fit for the rigors of a national campaign for the presidency.
In a press briefing before the “Online Kumustahan” event in Lingayen City, Pangasinan on Sunday, Lacson was asked about the state of his health heading into the official campaign period for the May 9, 2022 polls.
“All I know is that based on my last wellness check-up, my body age is 53. So, 20 years younger,” said the former national police chief, who also barnstormed through Baguio City and La Trinidad in Benguet province on Saturday before going down to Lingayen.
The three-term senator also attended the 50th anniversary reunion of his Philippine Military Academy “Matatag” Class of 1971 at the PMA campus in Baguio, besides meeting with Sangguniang Kabataan members and city Mayor Benjamin Magalong on a hectic day in the country’s summer capital.