Presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson on Saturday urged the electorate to choose a candidate based on qualification and not on what the poll surveys indicate.
In a forum in Quezon City, Lacson said he and his running mate Senate President Vicente Sotto III would keep educating the voters on choosing the right candidates during the homestretch of the campaign period.
“We will continue to educate and enlighten our electorate. To look at qualifications, not popularity. Vote for who has the competence, experience, and qualifications; and get rid of the mentality that you will waste your votes just because the competent or qualified candidate is not leading in the surveys,” Lacson said.
He said the Filipinos have been suffering for so long because they have failed to elect the most qualified candidates in past elections – and deserve a much needed break with a leadership that will see them through these challenging times.
Lacson also said he and Sotto would continue their approach of directly going to the people through consultations.
“We deserve nothing less. Filipinos for the longest time have suffered and needed a break. Senate President Sotto and I are offering ourselves with all our competence, qualification, and experience to improve the lives of our fellow Filipinos,” he said.
For his part, Sotto said the next Congress may want to look into filing a bill to regulate surveys to counter their undue influence on voters’ minds.
He added that surveys have not been a guarantee that a “leading” candidate would deliver the people from poverty and other problems. Thus, he said it is better that voters use their conscience and discernment in choosing their candidates.
“Let your conscience be your guide. Even if you think you are the only one who votes for a certain candidate, you will feel good because you followed your conscience,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Lacson and Sotto said they still have much in the tank to keep up with their hectic schedule. Lacson said he would rely on adrenaline and vitamins, while Sotto said he would take vitamins, exercise, and prayers.
But more importantly, Lacson said a clean conscience would help them sustain their campaign.
“When you have a clean conscience, you will feel much lighter. But if you are scheming and have other agenda, even those without conscience will be bothered when they sleep at night,” he said.