Lacson open for Duterte endorsement, but won’t seek it

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson presides over a hybrid public hearing in the Senate.
Senate PRIB file photo / Joseph Vidal

MANILA, Philippines — While presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson would welcome an endorsement from President Rodrigo Duterte, he said he will not seek it due to self-respect and dignity.

Lacson said Friday that any endorsement, whether from barangay officials or the president, will be welcomed.

“Ang sabi nga namin lahat ng endorsements are welcome, but we are not seeking it ano, especially openly seeking just like one particular candidate is doing,” Lacson said in a media briefing in Cebu.

(All endorsements are welcome, but we are not seeking it, especially openly seeking just like one particular candidate is doing.)

“We don’t do that because you know we also deserve… to maintain our self dignity intact,” he added.

While recognizing the popularity of Duterte, Lacson said it is still important to have self-respect and dignity.

“Ang importante sa tao ay self-respect at dignidad ng isang tao so we will not resort to that but of course any endorsement is an addition whether coming from the lowest local government official from a barangay chairman all the way up to the president,” Lacson said.

(It is important for individuals to maintain self-respect and dignity so we will not resort to that but of course any endorsement is an addition whether coming from the lowest local government official from a barangay chairman all the way up to the president.)

Lacson said his tandem with Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who is vying for the vice presidential post, would rather focus on presenting their platforms and showing their public service record to the voters.

“’Yung platform namin naka-ready naman kami so parang bonus na lang ang mga endorsement, ika nga. We would rather stand on our own feet,” Lacson said.

(We are ready with our platform so endorsements are just a bonus. We would rather stand on our own feet.)

Asked if they will set a meeting with Duterte, Lacson said: “Di kami ganon ka-presumptuous e (We are not that presumptuous).”

For his part, Sotto said it is the votes that matter, and not endorsements.

“Endorsements are good but we need the votes,” Sotto said.

“Ie-endorse mo nga, hindi ka naman iboboto. It’s like your credit is good but we need cash (You endorsed a candidate but you will not vote for them. It’s like your credit is good but we need cash),” he added.

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JPV