Vice President Leni Robredo and Sen. Panfilo Lacson (INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS / EDWIN BACASMAS)
MANILA, Philippines — To say that Senator Panfilo Lacson is “all talk and no action” is an “injustice” to the former national police chief, Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla said on Monday after the remark made by Vice President Leni Robredo against her fellow presidential aspirant last week.
“Hindi ko na sana balak makipag-balitaktakan pa pagdating sa #Halalan2022. Ngunit bilang kamag-anak, kalalawigan at kapwa Imuseño / Caviteño ay nararapat lamang na tumayo ako at ipagtanggol si Senador Ping Lacson,” Remulla said in a Facebook post.
Lacson hails from Cavite.
(I had no intention of engaging in debates related to the 2022 polls. But as a relative, as someone from the same province, a fellow Imuseño/Caviteño I ought to stand up for and defend Senator Ping Lacson.)
“Kung may kandidato man na siyang pinakamalawak ang karanasan bilang isang tunay na serbisyo publiko, walang iba kundi si Sen. Ping yon [If there’s a candidate with the most experience as a true public servant, it’s Sen. Lacson],” the governor added.
Remulla then went on to cite the many positions Lacson held in his five-decade experience in public service after graduating from the Philippine Military Academy in 1971.
“To describe him as ‘all talk and no action’ is an injustice to the man who embodies ‘leadership by example’ with 50 years of public service from law enforcement, legislation and humanitarian work,” Remulla said.
“No to hate”
“Sana maalala ni VP Leni ang aking payo sa kanya [I hope VP Leni will be reminded by my advice]: That no matter what happens, please do not give in to the hate,” he added.
He issued the same reminder to Robredo’s supporters.
“The same goes to her supporters. The best way to champion your candidate or political stand is not through hate. You can never convince other people to join your cause if all you do is look down, insult, ridicule and alienate those who do not share the same views as you. Let’s just all agree to disagree,” he added.
“No endorsement”
Remulla, meanwhile, clarified that his Facebook post defending Lacson is not an endorsement, saying voters in Cavite are free to choose who they want to vote for in May.
“Walang pilitan, impluwensya at lalong walang mind conditioning. Hindi uso sa Etivac ang kathang-isip ng iba dyan [We do not force, influence or resort to mind conditioning. Such does not prevail in Cavite,” he added.
During the “political fast talk” segment of the interview aired on Wednesday last week, talk show host Boy Abunda asked Robredo why Filipinos should not vote for other presidential aspirants, including Lacson.
“Maraming salita pero kulang sa on the ground na gawa [He talks a lot but lacks on-the-ground action],” Robredo said of Lacson.
After the interview, Robredo admitted knowing that her outright criticism of her 2022 rivals would ruffle some feathers and elicit strong reactions from her rivals.
But she said she did not want to be evasive when asked why Filipinos should not vote for other aspirants.
RELATED STORIES:
‘I can’t take that sitting down!’ Sotto defends Lacson after Robredo comment
Cavite Gov. Remulla trends over deleted ‘informal’ online presidential poll: ‘My mistake’